The Thirumoorthi Reservoir Project Committee under the Parambikulam Aliyar Irrigation Project has requested the Tamil Nadu government to allocate Rs 10 crore annually for desilting canals. This funding is crucial to ensure proper water distribution to agricultural areas in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts. The committee emphasized the challenges faced by farmers due to silt accumulation in irrigation canals, leading to disruptions in water flow.
The Parambikulam Aliyar Irrigation Project’s network caters to a vast agricultural region spanning nearly 4.25 lakh acres. Within this area, about 3.77 lakh acres are served by the Thirumoorthi Dam irrigation system, while around 44,000 acres receive irrigation through the Aliyar Dam network. This project plays a significant role in supporting agriculture in western Tamil Nadu.
The management of irrigation activities in the region relies on canal networks maintained by the Water Resources Department, in collaboration with 134 farmers’ associations in the Thirumoorthi basin and 16 associations in the Aliyar basin. Between 2016 and 2021, the state government allocated Rs 10 crore annually for desilting operations, ensuring uninterrupted water flow. However, no funds were allocated for this purpose during the 2021-2025 period, leading to substantial silt buildup in various canals.
Due to the lack of maintenance, water distribution has been severely impacted, especially in tail-end areas where farmers struggle to receive sufficient irrigation water. Following representations made last year, the previous government sanctioned and released Rs 10 crore, enabling desilting activities. The committee now seeks a continuation of this allocation for the current fiscal year to avoid a recurrence of irrigation challenges.
Additionally, the committee highlighted constraints in canal cleaning through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), as the scheme permits work on a specific canal only once every three years, inadequate for regular maintenance needs. In a separate plea to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and other officials, the committee also urged the completion of long-pending projects under the PAP system, including the Anaimalaiyaru and Nallaru projects.
