300 farmers detained for protesting balanced water distribution in Parambikulam-Aliyar Project
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.
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The Hindu
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- The Hindu
PAP Canal tail-end farmers reject WRD claim of equitable water distribution, Tiruppur Collector assures elaborate discussion on the issue
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New Indian Express
21-07-2025
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Enhance water supply to Vellakovil branch canal, demand PAP tail-end farmers
TIRUPPUR: Farmers at the tail-end region of the irrigation network of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) have threatened to hold a protest if the Water Resources Department (WRD) doesn't release 149 cusecs of water to the Vellakovil branch canal instead of the current 131 cusecs on an interim basis. They announced they will show black flags to the chief minister during his scheduled visit to Tiruppur on Tuesday if appropriate steps are not taken. The farmers cited drought-like conditions prevailing in the tail-end areas despite receiving PAP water. Under the PAP, 4.25 lakh acres of agricultural land in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts are getting irrigation facilities. This includes about 3.77 lakh acres of agricultural lands irrigated by water from the Thirumoorthy Dam. Of this 12,000 acres of farmlands in Kangeyam and Vellakovil areas of Tiruppur, which are the tail-end parts of the PAP system, are irrigated by the Vellakovil branch canal. Currently, 131 cusecs of water is being provided to this branch canal from the main canal. But the farmers in tail-end areas claim that this water is not enough. They have requested 149 cusecs of water instead of 131 cusecs during the water release to the fourth zone of the PAP system.
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
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PAP farmers to press for Anamalaiaru-Nallaru project
TIRUPPUR: Farmers benefiting from the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) plan to meet the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and press for the implementation of the pending Anamalaiaru-Nallaru water project. They want the chief minister to discuss the Anamalaiaru-Nallaru project with the Kerala government and implement it quickly. The project envisages the construction of Anamalaiaru Dam and the Nallaru Dam by the state government in the Western Ghats as part of the PAP agreement with the Kerala government. CM Stalin will visit Tiruppur district next week on a two-day trip. The Chief Minister is also set to unveil statues of four people, including former Chief Minister K Kamaraj, who were behind the PAP. Medical K Paramasivam, Chairman of PAP Planning Committee, said, "We plan to meet the chief minister and present three important demands to him when he visits Tiruppur district. We will request the chief minister to discuss the Anamalaiaru-Nallar project with the Kerala government and implement it quickly. We will also urge him to immediately start the PAP renovation project as the structures are broken and dilapidated at many places, causing water wastage. A DPR has already been prepared for this with a project value of about Rs 4,500 crore." "Funds should be allocated to the water user's associations (WUA) to maintain distribution canals and water courses under them. This allocation was given three years ago. This enabled WUAs to maintain the canals. But right now it is not possible. We have decided to emphasise this to the chief minister. We have formally written to the district administration and WRD officials for this," the Chairman added.
