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The farming community in Coimbatore-Tiruppur districts are expecting the State Government to take sincere steps for implementing the Anamalayar-Nallar irrigation project, in the wake of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay promising prompt measures to make it happen, during his election campaign for Dharapuram byelection.
According to representatives of farmers’ associations in the region, the delay in implementation of the project was one of the main reasons for the debacle of DMK in the Western districts in the 2026 Assembly election.
The farmers have urged the TVK Government to impress upon the Congress party to prevail upon its Government in Kerala to take reciprocal action for fructification of the project.
According to farmers in Kangayam and Vellakovil areas in the tail-end of the PAP (Parambikuilam Aliyar Project) main canal, Anamalayar-Nallar project that would pave way for diversion of over seven TMC water through a 20-km tunnel to the Thirumoorthy Dam was vital to thwart the crisis situation from aggravating further.
A little over 50 tmc water is tapped through tunnels and contour canal from the west-flowing rivers through Mel Neeraru, Keezh Neeraru, Sholayar, Parambikulam, Thunakkadavu, Peruvaripallam, and Aliyar dams. Out of 50 tmc water, 19.55 tmc water is diverted to Kerala for farming activities in Palakkad and Chittur areas in Kerala.
The little over 30 tmc water is being utilised to irrigate 4.3 lakh acres in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts.
While the Thirumoorthy Dam is the source of irrigation for 3.79 lakh acres, the Aliyar Dam wets about 50,400 acres.
The farmers have urged both Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments to form an Inter-State team of experts to take the project forward.
As per the PAP Agreement between the two States, Tamil Nadu would have the leverage to initiate work on the Anamalayar-Nallar project after the completion of Idamalayar Dam by the Kerala Government. It is 40 years since Kerala Government completed the dam project. The onus is on Tamil Nadu to give a push, the farmers emphasised.
Published - October 16, 2026 08:49 pm IST