The Water Resources Department (WRD) will be maintaining flow in the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) Main Canal for irrigation in the fourth zone till December 24, thereby extending the duration by another 15 days.
The duration had to be extended to recompense for the stoppage of flow for rectification of a breach caused at Vavipalayam near Palladam last month.
The extended duration, according to WRD sources, was required to ensure flow of the 10,250 mcft (inclusive of evaporation).
As per schedule, the water was released for four rounds with intervals over a five month-period since July 27.
There is enough water storage in the Thirumoorthy Dam to maintain the flow till December 24, WRD officials said.
Water level in the dam stood at 55.17 feet out of the maximum of 60 feet. The storage was 1536 mcft out of the capacity of 1744 mcft.
The proposal of the WRD for extending the duration of water flow in PAP Main Canal by 15 days will be ratified. In effect, the current round of water release will be deemed as half-wetting, official sources said.
Earlier this month, farmers of Kangayam-Vellakovil in the tail-end area expressed resentment over what they complained as curtailment of the fifth-wetting duration, and staged a sit-in protest in the WRD office in Pollachi, and their demand was conveyed to the higher authorities.
Published – December 12, 2025 10:08 pm IST
