A canal that has been disrupted at Kandanvilai region in Kanniyakumari district.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Farmers from Kanniyakumari district have expressed concern over irrigation canals being continuously affected in the district due to the ongoing track doubling work between Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram railway stations.
They have called for prompt action from railway authorities to restore the channels, as hectares of agricultural lands have been affected by the work. Although the project was welcomed by all sections of people, including farmers, as it has the probability to increase train services to the region, grievances began to arise when irrigation canals started getting disturbed during the execution of the project.
A. Vins Anto, of Kodhayar Irrigation System Project Committee alleged that in many places across the district, small ponds located along the railway track alignment are being partially filled with soil, canals are closed and culverts that were carrying water across the railway line have not been extended. Instead, they have been sealed beneath the new railway track. At many locations, small culverts have been established, instead of large ones, obstructing the water flow.
Pointing out that agriculture in several parts of the district was being destroyed, he said the district was moving towards ecological disaster. Notably, Kandanvilai branch canal, which ran parallel to the railway line along an elevated stretch, had now been severed for about 200 metres. Although the projects were being implemented for infrastructure development, the canal supplying water to tail-end farmlands had been cut off, affecting the agricultural lands.
“For the past three years, several panchayats across the district, including Nullivilai and Sadayamangalam, have been affected. Around 10 ponds are not receiving water, impacting the agriculture and drinking water supply,” Mr. Anto said.
Speaking on the issue, an official from Southern Railway said there was displacement in the continuations of canals in some areas, which needed additional land for restoring them, and land acquisition had been proposed through the Collectorate.
“We also conducted a joint inspection with the Water Resource Department, and the canals and water bodies in the railway limits will be restored along with the doubling work,” the official added.
Published – January 24, 2026 07:18 pm IST
