Coimbatore Corporation plans barrage near Pilloor III headworks to ensure uninterrupted water supply

The Pilloor III headworks, located on the banks of the Bhavani river in Samayapuram village near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district.

The Coimbatore Corporation is planning a barrage near the Pilloor III headworks to ensure uninterrupted pumping of drinking water to the city under the Pilloor III drinking water scheme.Water released from the Pilloor Dam flows around 13 km downstream to the Pilloor III headworks near the barrage operated by Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation (TNGEC) at Samayapuram village, which serves as the raw water intake point for the scheme.The Pilloor III scheme, which was completed and inaugurated in February 2024 after nearly four years of work, is operated by the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board. The scheme supplies around 130 MLD of drinking water to Coimbatore city.However, officials said the scheme has been facing a prolonged operational issue as the headworks is dependent on the TNGEC barrage, which stores water at a rate of 6,000 cusecs for power generation. During flood-like situations, when excess water is released from the Pilloor Dam, the barrage gates are opened as it cannot hold the increased inflow. Once the gates are opened, the water level at the headworks drops significantly, affecting pumping operations.Officials said water intake can be carried out only when the water level at the headworks remains around four metres so that the pumps remain fully submerged. When the barrage shutters are opened, the water level falls below the required level, resulting in disruption of pumping operations.Similarly, during maintenance works undertaken by the TNGEC, the barrage gates are opened, making it impossible to draw water. This leads to suspension of water supply from the Pilloor III scheme, affecting drinking water distribution in several parts of the city.Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said the civic body was planning to deposit around ₹30 crore with the Water Resources Department for a separate barrage between the Pilloor III headworks and the TNGEC barrage. He said a detailed project report for the proposed barrage was being prepared.He said that during maintenance works at the TNGEC barrage or during flood-like situations in the past, disruption in pumping operations under the Pilloor III scheme had affected the city’s drinking water supply for nearly 15 days. The proposed barrage is expected to help maintain water levels at the intake point and prevent such prolonged interruptions. Published - May 27, 2026 06:06 pm IST