Factoring in existing storage in the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) system dams, the Water Resources Department has plans to release 3,200 mcft water from the Thirumoorthy dam for over 60 days for second zone special wetting in the ayacut of PAP Main Canal from the start of November, after undertaking desilting works till then.
The desilting, which should have been carried out months earlier, was delayed due to the byelection to Dharapuram (SC) constituency in Tiruppur district.
Following requests by farmers, the Election Commission of India made it known last month that it had no objection to the start of works provided no political mileage is derived by any political party.
Thereafter, the WRD has initiated tenders for the desilting works, according to officials.
The State government had earlier sanctioned ₹14.97 crore for carrying out desilting works of the irrigation canals in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts.
The second zone command area, according to farmers requires at least two wettings for salvaging the drying coconut tree crop.
Normally, water for the second zone is released around mid-August.
This time, the schedule could not be maintained due to drastic shortage in the southwest monsoon.
According to officials, the northeast monsoon impact is more in the plains than in the catchment of the dams on the hills, and, hence, the scope for significant improvement in water storage in the dams does not exist.
On Saturday, the storage in Thirumoorthy dam was 645 mcft, compared to 868 mcft on the same day last year. Moderate storage in Sholayar, Parambikulam, and Aliyar dams is expected to save the situation.
The storage in Amaravathy dam was 590 mcft, drastically low compared with the 2,414 mcft at the corresponding time last year.
Published - October 18, 2026 12:26 am IST