In the wake of the Water Resources Department rectifying the breach caused to the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Main Canal about two weeks ago at Vavipalayam near Palladam in Tiruppur district, farmers in the tail-end have cautioned the Department against curtailing the duration of fifth wetting in the fourth round, in the fourth zone.
The Water Resources Department, official sources said, has taken steps to extend the release of water beyond December 9, when the fourth round of water release was scheduled to end, to compensate for the obstruction in flow for carrying out the repair works.
With the fifth wetting in fourth round getting completed in most of the branch canal ayacuts, the WRD has taken measures for fifth-round water release, owing to the comfortable storage position in almost all the PAP system dams.
Water was released on July 27 from the Thirumoorthy Dam into the PAP Main Canal for irrigation in the fourth zone encompassing 94,068 acres. The water release to the extent of 10,250 mcft (inclusive of evaporation) would be maintained with intervals over a five-month period till December 9.
In view of the disruption caused in water flow in the PAP Main Canal due to the repair works, the farmers in Kundadam, Palladam, Avinashipalayam, Pongalur, Kangayam and Vellakovil told the WRD that reduction in the duration of the fifth-wetting in the new order to be obtained for extending the water release would not be acceptable.
The breakage in the PAP Main canal was caused due to the mismanagement by Water Resources Department, PAP Vellakovil Branch Canal (Kangayam-Vellakovil) Water Conservation Association president P. Velusamy said, in a representation addressed to the Executive Engineer of WRD, Pollachi.
Published – December 01, 2025 08:33 pm IST
