Parambikmulam Aliyar Project Workshop

Parambikkulam Aliyar Project is located in borders of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The project is an example of inter-basin transfer of water from eight west flowing rivers to east facilitating the irrigated areas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) system consists of group of reservoirs and weirs namely Nirar Weir came into use in 1975, Lower Nirar dam in 1982, Sholayar Reservoir in 1971, Parambikulam Reservoir in 1967, Thunacadavu-Peruvaripallam Reservoirs in 1965, Aliyar Reservoir in 1962, Thirumurthy Reservoir in 1967. Over the years the command area was extended in phases and now the area under the project is 380,000 acres falling in Coimbatore and Erode Districts of TN. At present the elections have been conducted to 150 WUAs, which means entire area has come under WUAs.

On 1st June 2004, TVNN organized project level meeting at Pollachi in Coimbatore District. Mr. K.S. Balachander, Secretary TVNN narrated the aims and objectives of TVNN and the details of the FNWSR project. Mr. S.R. Rajagopal highlighted the need for farmers network for water management with the backdrop of growing problems faced by farmers. Mr. Medical Paramasivam emphasized the need for steady process in conducting elections to WUAs, as the present processes of holding elections had many lacunas. Mr. P.K. Ramaswamy appealed to the participants to commit fully to strengthen TVNN’s move to make it successful. Mr. Kathiresan urged farmers to acquire knowledge beyond water management at field level. Mr. R. Doraiswamy and Mr. Thachinamurthy spoke on the process of network and its importance.

After serious discussion over the water and farmers network related issues like revisiting PAP agreement, Anamalaiaru-Nallaru schemes, and PIM. Many participants joined TVNN’s to spread the activities in the project area.