A view of Ponnaniyar dam in the hilly Kadavur region of Karur district.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
Amidst persistent demands from a section of farmers for diverting surplus flood waters from the Cauvery to the Ponnaniyar dam and Kannuthu tank, DMK Rajya Sabha Member Rajathi alias Salma has urged the Union Jal Sakthi Ministry to fund the project.
Situated 65 km from Tiruchi, the Ponnaniyar dam is nestled between Perumal Malai and Semmalai. While the dam and its catchment area are in Karur district, the ayacut area is spread over Mugavanur panchayat and neighbouring villages in Tiruchi district.
The Water Resources Department recently submitted a proposal to the State government seeking ₹83 lakh to take up a feasibility study and prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for pumping surplus waters in the Cauvery to Ponnaniyar dam and Kannuthu tank to stabilise irrigation in the ayacut areas fed by them.
The proposal envisages laying a pipeline for over 54 km to pump surplus water from the Mayanur barrage on the Cauvery to Ponnaniyar dam and the Kannuthu tank.
Meanwhile, Ms. Salma, who hails from Thuvarankurichi in Tiruchi district, called on Union Minister for Jal Sakthi C.R. Patil in New Delhi recently requesting financial assistance for the improvement and development of Ponnaniyar dam and Kannuthu tank through diversion of surplus Cauvery water.
In a representation, Ms. Salma said there was an urgent need to improve the water resource infrastructure in Manapparai region. The Ponnaniyar dam and the Kannuthu tank in Manapparai taluk had witnessed a substantial decline in inflow over the past several years.
“The reduction has severely impacted irrigation facilities and groundwater recharge, resulting in considerable hardship for farmers who depend on these waterbodies for their livelihood,” she said.
To address this issue, a proposal had been formulated to undertake survey, levelling, and sub-soil investigation work to assess the technical feasibility of diverting surplus floodwater from the Cauvery to the Ponnaniyar dam and Kannuthu tank through suitable pumping arrangements.
“The implementation of this scheme will significantly benefit several villages, including Mugavanoor, Sekkanam, Palayakottai, and Elamanam, by providing assured irrigation to thousands of acres of agricultural land. It will contribute substantially to groundwater recharge and promote sustainable water resource management in the region,” she said and urged the Minister to approve and allocate necessary financial assistance for the execution of the project in the interests of farmers and the water security of the region.
The Ponnaniyar dam was built in 1974 and rainwater flow from Kadavur region is its main water source. The catchment area is spread over 33.60 sq miles. The dam has a storage capacity of 120 million cubic feet (mcft) and has an aycut of about 2,100 acres.
The Kannuthu tank, another small reservoir, is at Elamanam in Manapparai taluk. It has a storage capacity of 56.16 mcft and has an ayacut of about 734 acres.
Published – February 13, 2026 06:14 pm IST
