VIRUDHUNAGAR: The district administration has released Rs.1.25 crore to farmers for artificial recharging of ground water in 3,271 irrigation wells in the district till December 2008. Collector K. Raghupathi said that while small and marginal farmers were given Rs.4,000 as subsidy for constructing recharge filters, other farmers were being given Rs.2,000 as subsidy. The subsidy part has been deposited in the respective bank accounts of the farmers, the Collector said in a statement. The scheme was being implemented in Rajapalayam, Watrap, Srivilliputtur, Sivakasi regions. Mr. Raghupathi asked the farmers to verify the deposits of subsidy with their bank statements. Farmers, who do not have a bank account, should immediately open an account to get the subsidy money credited, he said. The Collector also reviewed the implementation of Tamil Nadu Irrigation Agriculture Modernisation and Water-bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) project. The project was being implemented in the Arjuna River sub-basin at a cost of Rs.18.40 crore, Sindhapalli Uppodai sub-basin at a cost of Rs.1.79 crore and the Sencottaihyar river sub-basin at a cost of Rs.6.75 crore in the first two phases. The Departments of Ground Water Resources, Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University were involved in its implementation, he said. System of Rice Intensification He said that Rs.15 lakh has been spent in the district by the Department of Agriculture for the System of Rice Intensification programme in 250 hectares and for cultivation of maize in 243 hectares and another Rs.50,000 for cultivating pulses in 21 hectares. The Horticulture Department has encouraged cultivation of mango, banana, sapota and guava in 74 hectares at a cost of Rs.4.72 lakh. Eight farm ponds set up The Department of Agricultural Engineering has set up eight farm ponds at a cost of Rs.2.84 lakh in which the Department of Fisheries has given Rs.2.54 lakh for fishing activity. Officials from all the departments participated in the meeting.