Water Resources Department forms Joint Monitoring Committees to prevent water theft in PAP Main and branch canals

Joint Monitoring Committees have been constituted area-wise by the Water Resources Department to ensure efficient water realisation all along the 126-km PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Main Canal, and branch and distribution canals.

The committees are tasked with the responsibility of overseeing water accrual all along the canal, in the wake of complaints of water theft.

The committees consisting of officials of WRD, Revenue, Electricity, and Police departments, and representatives of Water Users’ Associations formed area-wise will be required to furnish information to the Water Resources Department about illegal diversion of water.

The TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) has been entrusted with the task of withdrawing power connections in the agricultural fields where water has been diverted illegally, according to an directive issued by the WRD authorities.

The initiative put in place since January 24 will be implemented all through the water flow duration for irrigation in the first zone till June 30.

This measure has not gone down well with farmers in the tail-end of the PAP Main Canal who have been complaining of inadequate water accrual.

According to P. Velusamy, president of the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Vellakovil Branch Canal (Kangayam-Vellakovil) Water Conservation Association, constitution of Joint Monitoring Committees area-wise does not serve the intended purpose.

There should be a common committee with participation of the functionaries of all WUAs, for the initiative to prevent water thefts to be effective, Mr. Velusamy reasoned out.