Latest news with #Parambikulam-AliyarProject
New Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
300 farmers detained for protesting balanced water distribution in Parambikulam-Aliyar Project
TIRUPPUR: The district police detained more than 300 farmers who had set out from Kangeyam towards Pollachi to besiege the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) superintendent engineer's office. Their demand was for balanced water sharing within the PAP system and additional water allocation for tail-end areas. Around 15 people were injured, including both police personnel and farmers. Sources said that under the PAP, 4.25 lakh acres of agricultural land in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts receive irrigation facilities. Through the Thirumurthy Dam, about 3.77 lakh acres of agricultural land are irrigated under PAP. Of this, 12,000 acres of farmlands in the Kangeyam and Vellakovil areas, which are at the tail-end of PAP, are irrigated through the Vellakovil branch canal. More than 300 farmers from Kangeyam and Vellakovil areas left for Pollachi with their cattle on Tuesday, claiming they were not receiving enough water for the tail-end areas and insisting on balanced water sharing in PAP. They had planned to travel in vehicles and besiege the PAP's SE office in Pollachi. Farmers gathered in Bagavathipalayam near Kangeyam on the Coimbatore-Chidambaram National Highway. Police were deployed there in advance. Subsequently, the police stopped the farmers attempting to proceed towards Pollachi from this location. The disgruntled farmers defied the police and moved onto the road, leading to a pushback between the police and farmers.
New Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kangeyam, Vellakovil farmers plan stir seeking fair share of PAP water
TIRUPPUR: Farmers from Kangeyam and Vellakovil plan to besiege the Pollachi-based office of the Superintendent Engineer (SE) of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) on June 24, demanding adequate water supply to the tail-end areas and equitable sharing. However, exposing a rift among PAP farmers, a complaint has been filed with the police and Water Resources Department (WRD) on behalf of the PAP planning committee, stating that this protest will cause law and order issues and the protest should not be allowed. Under the PAP scheme, 4.25 lakh acres of agricultural land in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts are getting irrigation. Through the Thrumurthy Dam alone, about 3.77 lakh acres are irrigated and these are divided into four zones with 95,000 acres per zone. Water is currently being supplied to the third zone. Farmers from Kangeyam and Vellakovil are planning to besiege the PAP's SE office in Pollachi in Coimbatore district on June 24, demanding fair sharing of the PAP water. P Velusamy, the President of PAP Vellakoil Branch Canal Water Conservation Movement, said, "As per the norm there should be balanced sharing of irrigation water of the PAP system. But this is completely absent as water is being drawn in excess from the main canal for supply to many branch and distribution canals. And, water theft is very rampant. We, the farmers of the tail-end, are directly affected by this." "In all 12,000 acres depend on the Vellakovil branch canal. Of this, 800 acres did not receive water for irrigation even on Saturday. We will carry out this protest for these reasons. We are mobilising farmers from village to village," he added. The Planning Committee, an elected body, of the PAP (Thirumurthy dam) has opposed this protest, faering law and order issues among farmers and collapse of the PAP system.
New Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Farmers in TN urge dredging of PAP main canal to curb water wastage before release to fourth zone
TIRUPPUR: Farmers in Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts who are benefitting from the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) have urged the Water Resource Department (WRD) to dredge its entire main canal before opening water to the fourth zone to prevent wastage. The 124-kilometre-long main canal starts from the Thirumoorthy Dam located in Udumalaipet in Tiruppur district and ends at Vellakovil on the border of Tiruppur district. About 3.77 lakh acres coming under PAP is divided into four irrigation zones. The fourth zone comprises around 94,000 acres of farmlands from mile 1 to 124 of the main canal. S Paramasivam, Tiruppur District President of Tamil Nadu Coconut Farmers Association, said, "PAP irrigates around 4.25 acres of agricultural land in Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts. Out of which, about 3.77 lakh acres are irrigated by water from the Thirumoorthy Dam." "The main canal has branch and distributary canals extending to more than 1,000 km. Around 75% of the main canal is currently in a damaged state. In addition, in most places, the distributary and branch canals are also in a damaged state. Due to this, water wastage is high. Previously, a round of water would be distributed for only 21 days. Currently, it takes 29 days for one round of water supply due to water wastage," he added.
