Farmers seek release of water to eight irrigation tanks through Kannadiyan Channel

Farmers from Gopalasamudram stage dharna in front of the Collectorate in Tirunelveli on Monday.

| Photo Credit: A. SHAIKMOHIDEEN

Seeking release of water in Kannadiyan Channel, a group of farmers submitted petition to District Collector Anand Mohan during the weekly grievances redressal meeting held on Monday.The petitioner agriculturists, who are waiting for water to be released for starting their ‘kar’ season paddy cultivation, said 8 irrigation tanks in Gopalasamudram area - Nambinerikulam, Vaagaikulam, Velankulam, Koththankulam, Kandupidiththaankulam, Sengulam, Omanallur Periyakulam and Piraanchery Periyakulam – are getting water from Kannadiyan Channel, one of the 8 major irrigation channels of Tamirabharani Basin, as water would be released from Papanasam Dam on June 1 every year for ‘kar’ season paddy cultivation.While water is released to the ranches in Vickramasingapuram and Ambasamudram areas, these 8 tanks are waiting for water till June 13.“Refusing to release water for irrigation is like smothering the livelihood of farmers. This is due to the callous attitude of the officials of Water Resources Organisation. If we go in for belated ‘kar’ paddy cultivation in July end or in August due to delayed release of water, we’ll have to face the fury of northeast monsoon (in November) at the time of harvest. And, the chances of next paddy season – ‘pisanam’ – will also become bleak due to this delay. So, water should be released in Kannadiyan Channel without further delay,” said farmer Vanamaamalai of Gopalasamudram.However, the officials attached to the Department of Water Resources say that the unpredictable precipitation in the catchment areas of Papanasam and Manimuthar Dams this year has resulted in “unsatisfactory storage” of water in both the reservoirs.“Despite inadequate storage in the Papanasam (75 feet against the maximum capacity of 143 feet) and Manimuthar (73 feet against the maximum capacity of 118 feet) Dams, we’re now releasing 350 cusecs of water in Kannadiyan Channel. In fact, this is the largest quantity to be released in the Tamirabharani Basin channels as Palayam (108 cusecs) Kodagan (104 cusecs), Tirunelveli (80 cusecs) and Nadhiyunni (69 cusecs) channels are getting only lesser quantity as on July 13. If the storage level goes up fast in the dams following active monsoon along the catchment areas, nothing will prevent us from stepping-up the discharge of water from the reservoirs in all irrigation channels including Kannadiyan Channel. So, the increased release of water in the irrigation channels purely depends on nature,” said a senior official attached to Department of Water Resources.Condemning the decision to establish park on the bank of Tamirabharani river at the cost of ₹59 crore, a petition was submitted. The petitioner said the plan to create the park should be dropped as this park would further pollute the perennial river, the petitioner said.Member of ward 4 of Thaazhaiyooththu town panchayat L. Esakki Rani submitted a petition to the Collector against the digging of drainage channel in Jakkammal Temple area where the Scheduled Caste people are living in large number.“This move has been taken to drain the sewage in the area where the SC people live in large number. Hence, it should be stopped immediately,” Ms. Esakki Rani said. Published - July 13, 2026 07:53 pm IST