15/08/2012, Kannur: Er. Ahammed Basheer, Chief Engineer, Kuttanad Package asserted that the Irrigation department has prominent role and challenge in achieving the objectives of Kuttanad Package. Kuttanad area comprise of 57% of Alappuzha, 30% of Kottayam and 13% of Pathanamthitta Districts with 64 panchayaths. Kuttanad area is unique and the farming operations practiced also is unique. The operations are to be in conformity with the ecology and natural situation prevailing. These factors increase the responsibility of irrigation department. The interventions proposed by Dr. Swaminathan research foundation to be implemented by the department has to be in this background and the department also has to rise to the occasion. The conventional practices and methodologies has to be changed. The approach has to be in realising the tasks with a combined effort. For achieving the same changes also has to be made in existing implementation rules of the government. He was talking to Er. Mohammed Ashraf, Executive Committee member in a special interview allowed to the Association in connection with the 8th Executive Committee meeting. -Detailed Project Report to the tune of Rs. 3750 Crores has been prepared under Irrigation Sector and projects for the cost of Rs. 800 Crores are under implementation- Chief Engineer added.