Follow three pronged approach to augment water resources: Ramadoss

Chennai, June 25 (IANS) PMK founder S. Ramadoss Wednesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to follow a three-pronged approach to augment water resources to usher in an agricultural revolution.

Ramadoss, in a statement issued here, said the state is losing around 70 tmc ft of water every year owing to non-dredging of water bodies and lack of check dams.

He said inter-linking of the rivers in the state, dredging of water bodies and designing of good irrigation systems would enable the state to have agricultural revolution.

"Regular dredging of water bodies and storing of rain and river waters in artificial water bodies would enable year round agriculture in the state," he said.

Ramadoss citied steps taken by former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at an outlay of Rs.70,000 crore by which around seven million acres.

According to Ramadoss, the Telungana region which was earlier feared to turn barren is now a flourishing land due to the water projects.

He said time has come for Tamil Nadu to chart out its plans so that agriculture can be done without depending on others for water.