Latest news with #P.Velusamy
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Water from Thirumoorthy Dam reaches culmination point of 124-km PAP Canal, farmers in tail-end demand equitable distribution
Water released on July 27, 2025, from Thirumoorthy Dam into the 124-km Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) Main Canal in Palar River Basin, for irrigation in the fourth zone areas, has reached the tail-end in Kangeyam. The water release will benefit 94,068 acres of agricultural land in the fourth zone. The water release, according to officials, will be maintained with intervals over a five-month period till December 9. Water to the extent of 10,250 mcft (inclusive of evaporation) will be released during the period. The Water Resources Department (WRD) started off by releasing 250 cusecs, and will be gradually increasing the flow to 912 cusecs, the officials said. On Friday, the level at Thirumoorthy Dam stood at 53.87 feet, out of maximum of 60 feet. The storage was 1,481 mcft against the maximum capacity of 1,744 mcft. The inflow into the dam was 932 cusecs and the discharge 1,080 cusecs. On the same day last year, the level stood at 28.18 feet, and the storage was 597 mcft. Meanwhile, the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Vellakoil Branch Canal Water Conservation Association on Friday sought departmental action against officials in the WRD found flouting PAP Act. A petition submitted by P. Velusamy, president of the association, to the Revenue Divisional Officer of Tiruppur South who oversees the Monitoring Committee of PAP, Superintending Engineer of PWD (WRO), Parambikulam Aliyar Basin Circle, Pollachi, and other senior officials drew their attention to the continued neglect of the areas irrigated by the Vellakovil Branch Canal, vis-a-vis the Pongalur sub-division, based on water release calculations at the Andipalayam Measurement Point. Though the PAP Act specifies equitable distribution, the water drawal in Pongalur sub-division was much higher when compared to the extent flowing into Kangayam sub-division. Water withdrawals in the sub-canals of Pongalur division are categorised as overdrawals, supplied to non-zone and non-ayacut areas, the petition, a copy of which was also submitted to the Chief Minister's Office, said. Drought-like conditions continues to prevail in Kangayam-Vellakovil area despite abundant water storage in Tiruppur Dam, Mr. Velusamy pointed out. Inaction on the part of the government authorities to rectify the situation would leave the association with the only option of taking legal recourse, he said.
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PAP Canal tail-end farmers reject WRD claim of equitable water distribution, Tiruppur Collector assures elaborate discussion on the issue
Farmers in the tail-end of PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) canal who have been complaining of uneven distribution of water have rejected the contention of the Water Resources Department (WRD) denying the charge. The tail-end farmers have conveyed to the WRD instances of coconut trees withering away in the fourth zone despite abundance water availability in the PAP system dams. In a petition submitted to the department's Aliyar Basin Division, Pollachi, P. Velusamy, president of PAP Vellakovil Branch Canal Water Conservation Association said that the reading at the Andipalayam zero point implies that Pongalur sub-division receives receives nearly three times more water than the Kangeyam sub-division in equal irrigation area. The imbalance undermines the equitable principles outlined in Act 20 of 1993 and reinforced by several directions issued by the Madras High Court, Mr. Velusamy said. In his petition, he sought in writing from the Executive Engineer, Aliyar Basin Division, WRD, the purported stand of the department that intervention (in water distribution) could be authorised only by the Chairperson of PAP Project Committee, and not at the departmental or field level. In his reply, R. Narendiren, Executive Engineer, WRD, Aliyar Basin Division, Pollachi, cited the statement of the president of Distributory Committee No. 6 that has jurisdiction over Pongalur Sub-Division to deny the charge of uneven water distribution. The president of the Distributory Committee No. 6 had stated that there was equitable distribution of water under the jurisdiction of Pongalur sub-division and that water was distributed in equitable manner up to tail end under Participatory Irrigation Management. The statement also claimed that right quantity of water was made available at Vellakoil Branch Canal at zero point. The onus was on the Distributory Committee No. 8 of Kangayam area to distribute available water at zero point of Vellakoil Branch Canal that runs to a length of 27.6 km among the farmers as per the Tamil Nadu Farmers Management Irrigation System Act 2000 under participatory irrigation management. During the discussion at the farmers' grievance redressal meeting on Friday, District Collector Manish S. Narnaware said an elaborate discussion on PAP water distribution will be conducted next week, to arrive at a solution.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers urge State Government to pursue Anamalayar and Nallar sub-projects of PAP system
Farmers in the region have urged the State Government to implement the Anamalayar and Nallar sub-projects of Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) system without any time loss, to optimise utilisation of substantial volume of water that otherwise gets drained into Arabian sea at times when the rainfall is heavy. The PAP agreement of 1958 entailed harnessing 50 tmc ft water from the west flowing rivers that would include Kerala's share of 19.55 tmc ft. The agreement provided for start of Anamalayar project, which would pave way for diversion of 2,500 mcft every year in the PAP system, after construction of Idamalayar Dam by Kerala. Though the construction of the Idamalayar dam was completed in 1985, Tamil Nadu Government has not still taken steps for pursuing the Anamalayar project, P. Velusamy, president of PAP Vellakovil Branch Canal (Kangayam-Vellakovil) Water Conservation Association, said. Due to this, as much as 8.5 tmc ft water get drained into the sea during the years of surplus rainfall, he said. Likewise, the Nallar Neerar project will pave way for substantial increase in irrigation area, and agricultural progress in Coimbatore-Tiruppur districts. It will also reduce the distance of water flow to the Thirumoorthy Dam, minimising loss via evaporation . In the short-term, the State Government could consider enlarging the extent of flow from Sarkarpathy Power House and Thirumoorthy from 850 to 1500 cusecs, through enhancing the capacity of the contour canal. The government could undertake the task on a war-footing. Likewise, the government could also explore the utility of pumping of water from the Neerar Catchment to Thirumoorthy Dam directly through pipelines, Mr. Velusamy said, referring to the effective working of the Athikadavu-Avinashi pipeline scheme. There will only be minimal environmental impact, he said.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Abundant storage in Thirumoorthy Dam raises hopes among farmers for water adequacy in tail-end areas of PAP Main Canal
: The early onset of Southwest monsoon this year that has resulted in impressive storage in Thirumoorthy Dam has infused hope among farmers in the tail-end areas of the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Main Canal fed by the dam that there will be a change in the 'artificial drought conditions' caused hitherto by inadequate realisation of water in the canal. At a recent meeting to discuss the issue, the farmers arrived at a decision to stage prolonged protests if the Water Resource Department fails to channel water to a height of 4.8 feet (from the existing 4.5 feet) at the zero point of Vellakovil branch canal. Out of 2300 mcft (million cubic feet) drawn from the dam for supply through PAP main canal, the water distribution for Vellakoil branch should be one-eighth. Even if 20% of water transmission loss is factored in, the realisation has to be not less than 230 mcft at the zero point. 'But, the water realisation is only 170 mcft. This is not sufficient. At some locations in tail-end areas, water flow does not last even for two days. There is severe shortage of water for livestock, drinking purpose and irrigation,' P. Velusamy, president of PAP Vellakoil Branch Canal Water Conservation Movement said. The farmers hope the Water Resources Department will deploy better water management methods this time around with abundant water in the Thirumoorthy Dam. Against the full depth of 60 feet, the level in the dam rose up to 53.92 ft on Wednesday. The storage was 1483 mcft against capacity of 1744. Against inflow of 252 cusecs, discharge of 1160 cusecs was maintained. At the same day last year, the level was 31.1 feet and storage was 680 mcft. Also, the usable storage of the system dams of Parambikulam Aliyar Project was estimated at 7269.92 mcft by the Water Resources Department, on Wednesday. Official sources said the State Government has been promised funds by the Union Ministry of Jal Sakthi under Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP). Phase II and III, co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. Thirumoorthy Dam figures among 145 out of 736 dams proposed in the two phases that are more than 60 years old.
The Hindu
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers await Government Order on compensation for livestock lost due to attack by street dogs
Farmers in Tiruppur-Erode belt are waiting to know the modalities for payment of compensation by the government for loss of livestock and poultry birds due to attack by wandering dogs. Taking cognisance of the spate of protests by farmers, the State government consented to compensate farmers at the rate of ₹6,000 per goat or sheep, and ₹200 per chicken. The officials at the local level reportedly claim that the Government Order to that effect was awaited. In a petition submitted last week under Right to Information Act, P. Velusamy of Bagavathypalayam in Kangayam block, who was among the farmer leaders who led the protests, urged the Public Information Officer, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department to share a copy of the G.O. or any equivalent official communication issued by the State government regarding the compensation to the affected farmers. There was widespread concern as street dogs had turned rabid, he said. The Central government had pointed out to the State governments that the responsibility of implementing Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (in supersession of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001) vested with local bodies. The data of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which was responsible for the human health component related to dog bits and human rabies, indicated that Tamil Nadu ranked third at the national level in dog bite cases so far during 2025 with 48,931 cases reported, after Maharashtra (56,538) and Gujarat (53,942). The stand of the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is that intensive implementation of the Animal Birth Control programme by local bodies was the only rational and scientific solution to the overpopulation of the street dogs and controlling incidence of Rabies.. Animal Welfare Board of India provided the Animal Birth Control Project Recognition to recognised Animal Welfare Organisations to carry out the sterilisation and immunisation programme. However, the Central government had acknowledged that it had not conducted a formal assessment of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme's effectiveness in controlling the stray dog population.
