Pollachi farmers protest release of Aliyar water to Kerala

Hundreds of farmers in Pollachi held a demonstration on Monday against releasing of water from Aliyar dam to neighbouring Kerala. 

The farmers besieged the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project office on Pollachi-Udumalpet Road against releasing water as they feared that it may leave the western districts without water for agriculture. 

As per the PAP accord, Tamil Nadu should release 19.5 tmcft of water to Kerala of which 7.25 tmcft used to be released through the Manakkadavu sluice in the Aliyar River and 12.3 tmcft from Sholayar dam.

The issue on release of water is discussed by PWD officials of both Tamil Nadu and Kerala once in six months. In a recent meeting at Thiruvananthapuram, the TN officials were learnt to have agreed to release 400 cusecs of water to Kerala from February 14. 

However, the protesting farmers alleged that PWD officials released water to Kerala even before the fixed date, while ignoring the interests of farmers in the state. They feared that the move may affect the fortunes of thousands of farmers. 

“Shallots, a short term crop have been raised in around 25,000 acres of land hoping that water will be released from Aliyar. Other standing crops in 95,000 acres of land are also dependent on this water. If we don’t get water, then these crops may wither,” ‘Medical’ K Paramasivam, president of Thirumurthy Water Storage Planning Committee said. 

Besides demanding to stop release of water to Kerala, the farmers also sought the PWD officials to release water from Thirumurthy dam for first zone ayacut. The day long protest came to an end in evening after Member of the Parliament Mahendran and PWD supervising engineer Kalaimaran agreed to release water from Thirumurthy dam from January 31 and also stop supply of water to Kerala temporarily.