Farmers of Kangeyam-Vellakovil at tail-end of PAP Main Canal allege excess tapping of water in Pongalur Sub-Division, demand legal action as per High Court directives

The Hindu

a day ago

Alleging excess tapping of water in contravention of High Court directive in the upstream, the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Vellakovil Branch Canal (Kangayam-Vellakovil) Water Conservation Association has submitted a petition to the Revenue Divisional Officer of Tiruppur South, seeking action.
Citing the Madras High Court's orders issued during 2023 and 2017, president of the association P. Velusamy said in his petition submitted to the Revenue Department authorities that water flowing through the Parambikulam Main Canal from the Andipalayam measurement point must be equitably distributed between the Pongalur and Kangeyam sub-divisions, after accounting for dewatering losses, based on the proportion of their respective irrigation areas.
Any deviation from this constitutes contempt of court. Despite repeated representations and complaints submitted to the relevant authorities through various channels, no effective action had been taken, Mr. Velusamy said.
In the water release effected currently for the third zone, nearly three times (3/4) of the total water (158.775 mcft) is being allocated to the Pongalur sub-division, while only 1/4 of water (56.15 mcft) is reaching the Kangeyam sub-division. 'We have consistently highlighted the importance of balanced irrigation to both the district administration and the PAP authorities, yet the issue remains unaddressed,' Mr. Velusamy said.
Downstream of PAP Andipalayam reading point, Pongalur sub-division was allotted 245 cusecs for 4,000 acres over a period of seven-and-a-half days. Whereas, Kangeyam sub-division received only 125 cusecs for just five days, despite having the same acreage under cultivation, he explained.
As a consequence, Kangeyam and Vellakovil where rainfall was minimal were experiencing drought conditions. Despite favourable court verdicts, the authorities failed to take meaningful action.
In the PAP case in 2023, the High Court had emphasised that 'equal distribution of water to all eligible ayacutdars is of paramount importance.' In 2015, the High Court had noted that 'corrupt activities, collusion of public authorities, either actively and passively cannot be overruled. Once the government officials are found in collusion, they are to be prosecuted for the offence of abetment, under IPC along with the offenders of the Commission of theft.'
The Assistant Executive Engineer of Pongalur Sub-Division caused contempt of the aforementioned court orders, and hence, legal action must be taken, the petition said.
Copies of the petition were also addressed to the Chief Secretary of Government of Tamil Nadu, senior officials of WRO, District Collector, Superintendent of Police, president of Monitoring Committee for PAP in Dharapuram, Tiruppur DRO and Kangeyam Tahsildar.