Fri Jan 31 18:49:27 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu to Amend Irrigation Act After 25 Years
**Chennai, February 1, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu government is set to amend the Farmers Management of Irrigation Systems Act, 2000, after nearly 25 years. The Water Resources Department (WRD) will finalize the draft amendment by March, aiming to improve equitable water distribution and strengthen the state’s 5,702 Water Users’ Associations (WUAs).
The amendments aim to clarify ambiguities and address operational issues within the WUAs, which were formed under projects like the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation (TNIAM) project. Key changes include revising the term of office for WUA members to five years and streamlining election processes. The revisions also seek to increase farmer participation in WUAs and ensure they take ownership of field channels within their command areas.
The WRD plans to support WUAs in becoming self-reliant, assisting them with fund mobilization. Stakeholder meetings across the state have contributed to the proposed amendments, with further suggestions to be addressed through executive orders.
P. Ponnaiah, president of a WUA in Pudukkottai district, highlighted the need for increased funding for struggling WUAs, suggesting allocation of funds from fishing auctions or employing workers through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for channel maintenance. He also emphasized the need for WUAs to be granted powers to clear encroachments and improve water distribution channels.
The World Bank-funded TNIAM project, covering 5.43 lakh hectares and restoring 4,778 tanks, underscores the importance of these amendments in optimizing irrigation infrastructure and agricultural productivity across Tamil Nadu.
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