COIMBATORE: With the looming threat of El Nino and the central government declaring the Coimbatore and Tirupur districts as drought-prone, farmers in the Sulur and Avinashi regions have urged the state government to ensure an uninterrupted water supply to local tanks under the Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme. They emphasize that this is crucial to avert both agricultural losses and drinking water stress.
Petition Highlights Water Shortages
Athikadavu Kousika Nadhi Development Association chairman A Selvaraj wrote to the chief minister's special cell and the water resources department (WRD), alleging that tanks falling under the Sulur, Avinashi, and Kavundampalayam assembly segments are receiving very little water through the scheme. As the southwest monsoon has begun, he sought urgent rectification on a "war footing."
WRD Response and Actions Taken
In a written response, WRD executive engineer Appusamy stated that new control valves have been installed in Vagarayampalayam, Kittampalayam, Kulathupalayam, and Semmandampalayam to facilitate obstruction-free flow. Additionally, pipeline blockages have been cleared. He added that leaks in pipelines serving Ponnegoundan Pudur, Vadugapalayam, Thekkalur, Thanneer Pandhal, and Sooripalayam have been repaired. Air valves and outlet management system equipment are being cleaned. In Vayampalayam, Sarkar Samakulam, and Devampalayam, new valves were installed and leakages rectified.
The official stated that once surplus water is released from the Bhavani River, tanks under the Athikadavu-Avinashi project will receive water without hindrance.
Farmers' Concerns Persist
Selvaraj, however, maintained that while northern areas are receiving water, southern parts are not. He cited an example of a supply stream (SS) tank spread over 160 acres receiving only "cents" worth of water, and said check dams, including those at Vagarayampalayam, are not getting inflow. He welcomed the ongoing WRD action based on the petition but demanded preventive measures such as signboards and government warnings of legal action against those damaging pipelines.
