Coimbatore District Collector Addresses Water Release Concerns for Aliyar Dam
Coimbatore district collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar announced on Saturday that 10 million cubic feet (mcft) of water is being released daily into the Aliyar dam from the Upper Aliyar and Kadamparai dams, as per the existing operational plan. He indicated that this discharge rate is likely to be increased in response to requests from farmers who benefit from the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP).
Farmers' Petition and Water Allocation Request
During a farmers' grievance redressal meeting held at the Coimbatore district collectorate on Thursday, Medical K Paramasivam, president of the PAP Thirumoorthy Reservoir Project Committee, submitted a formal petition to the district collector. Paramasivam detailed that farmers had previously requested the release of 1,000 million cubic feet (1 TMC) of water into the Aliyar dam, with 400 million cubic feet allocated for December and 600 million cubic feet for January.
This request had initially received concurrence from the Kadamparai power station authorities and the Pollachi water resources department. However, the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) has reportedly refused to release water from the dams to Aliyar, raising concerns about potential impacts on farmers in the old and new ayacut areas of Aliyar in Kerala.
Potential Consequences of Water Diversion
Paramasivam highlighted that there are ongoing attempts to divert water flowing from the Parambikulam dam through the Contour canal to the Thirumoorthy dam towards the Aliyar dam. He warned that diverting water meant for Thirumoorthy to Aliyar could severely affect farmers across 10 assembly constituencies, especially as the first round of irrigation in the Thirumoorthy command area is currently underway.
Furthermore, he cautioned that if water supply to Kerala from Aliyar is halted, Kerala might retaliate by stopping the Siruvani drinking water supply, which is crucial for Coimbatore city residents. Paramasivam urged authorities to release the promised 1 TMC of water from Upper Aliyar and Kadamparai dams to Aliyar without any further delay.
Collector's Response and Escalation to TNPDCL
In response to the grievance, Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar stated that the issue has been escalated to TNPDCL for necessary action. He assured that the current discharge of 10 mcft per day is being maintained as per the existing plan, and efforts are underway to follow up with TNPDCL in the coming days regarding a likely increase in water release to meet the farmers' demands.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in water management and allocation within the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project, affecting agricultural and drinking water needs across regions.
