Tamil Nadu Government Allocates ₹10 Crore for Desilting PAP Canals
Government Initiative for Canal Maintenance
Chennai, Dec 6: The government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned a special fund of ₹10 crore aimed at desilting the canals of the Parambikulam–Aliyar Project (PAP). The desilting operations are set to commence right after the current water release for the fourth zone concludes.
The directive, issued by J. Jayakanthan, Secretary of the Water Resources Department (WRD), grants administrative approval for 154 desilting projects across three significant divisions associated with the PAP.
A senior official from the WRD stated that the initiative encompasses the removal of vegetation, loose debris, and the desilting of both major and minor canals.
"Initially, we had planned for 160 projects, but 154 have now been approved. Our goal is to finalize all desilting efforts before Pongal, as irrigation water needs to be released for the first zone during the festival," the official explained.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had revealed this funding on August 11 during his visit to Tiruppur district, responding to requests from irrigation association leaders and farmers who emphasized the critical need for desilting to enhance water flow and irrigation effectiveness.
The government has specifically allocated ₹10 crore for the canal works associated with the PAP.
According to the official order, 44 projects will be undertaken in the Thirumurthy division at an estimated cost of ₹2.88 crore, 27 projects in the Parambikulam division at ₹2.15 crore, and 83 projects in the Aliyar basin division at ₹4.97 crore. This desilting initiative is expected to benefit a total area of 1,33,976.62 hectares across the Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts.
Currently, water is being released from the Thirumurthy Dam for the fifth wetting of the fourth zone.
While the original plan was to supply water until December 9, a recent breach in the main canal near Vavipalayam has caused a disruption in the supply.
"To make up for this interruption, we have extended the water release for an additional ten days, starting from December 9. Desilting will commence immediately after this cycle concludes," the WRD official added.
P. Velusamy, President of the PAP Vellakoil Branch Canal Water Conservation Movement, expressed support for the initiative, stating that desilting should ideally occur biannually.
"For the past four years, the PAP has not received sufficient funding for regular desilting. This special allocation is a timely and necessary intervention," he remarked.
The Parambikulam–Aliyar Project is a crucial inter-basin water transfer and irrigation scheme, comprising seven reservoirs, four hydropower stations, six tunnels, one weir, and a contour canal system that channels west-flowing rivers to irrigate extensive rain-shadow areas of western Tamil Nadu.