of the nearly 39,000 tanks that recharge the groundwater in Tamil Nadu, more than 20,000 of them are small minor irrigation tanks. The level of water in these tanks is dependent on the vagaries of the weather. Most of the farmers of the area are entirely dependent on this system for raising food crops, with 90 per cent of the tanks belonging to the small or marginal category.

The tanks are owned by the village panchayats but traditionally managed by the local villagers. During the British rule, the government took over these tanks and levied a charge on the villagers. Naturally, the people expected the government to maintain the tanks. But this did not happen and, instead, resulted in their neglect.

Nothing happened until 1982, when C R Shanmugam, a civil engineer who had retired as dean of the College of Agricultural Engineering, joined the Centre for Water Resources at Anna University, Chennai. He is credited with launching the first tank renovation project at Padianallur village near Red Hills.

Shanmugam worked with Anna University until 1989 after which he joined pradan (P rofessional Association for Development Action )