Erode ryots urge State government for speedy execution of Pandiyar-Punnampuzha project

A project conceptualised by the two states in the 1960s remained shelved over differences in its implementation. It was agreed to implement the scheme based on water for Tamil Nadu and electricity for Kerala.

The Pandiyar river originates in The Nilgiris district and flows into Punnampuzha river in Kerala before draining about 14 tmc of water into the Arabian Sea.

“The implementation of the scheme is essential to end water scarcity in the Bhavani river basins. Even as water stored in Bhavani Sagar Dam helps in irrigation of lakhs of acres in Erode, Tirupur and Karur districts, huge tracts of land near the reservoir continue to remain arid. Implementation of the scheme will turn the fortunes of the farmers,” said D Prabhu, convenor of Pandiyar- Punnampuzha socio-political activists’ forum.

The irrigation scheme, if implemented is expected to cater to some high and dry areas surrounding the Bhavanisagar dam like Puliampatti, Sirumugai, Panayampalli, Kallipatti villages, Irumborai, Petthikuttai, Kavilipalayam, Kaarapadi, Varapalayam, Kuttagam, Kanuvakarai and Madhampalayam. The project, shelved for decades, has gained traction now, after both Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments have decided to go ahead in implementing the scheme. Both the states, represented by officials of the irrigation and power departments, discussed to thrash out the differences in a joint meeting in Thiruvananthapuram last month.

Meanwhile, senior engineers have recommended conversion of the scheme into just ‘Pandiyar project’ and take up its implementation at a cost estimate of Rs 50 crore without waiting for Kerala.