Farmers from Kanniyakumari district have called for the implementation of the long-pending Ulakkai Aruvi dam project, which they said would ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply for Nagercoil Corporation and address irrigation water shortages in Thovalai region.They said that project was essential as releasing water from Kodhayar irrigation system to Nagercoil Corporation to meet the city’s summer demands would affect irrigation of thousands of hectares of agricultural land in the district. They also pointed out that Pechiparai and other Kodhayar irrigation dams could eventually be used primarily as reservoirs to store water to meet the drinking water needs of the district.Chenbagasekara Pillai, a farmer from Thuvarankadu said, Ulakkai aruvi, located at the foothills of Injikadavu and Mahendragiri in the western ghats, receives substantial water, especially between June and January. However, he said a large quantity of water currently flows through Thoovachi, Kesavanputhoor before joining the Pazhayar river near the upper portion of Pallikondan check dam near Gnalam.Mr. Chenbagasekara Pillai stated that a proposal for the project was submitted in 2006 at an estimated cost of ₹82 crore. A few years later, PWD officials were again directed to prepare an estimate, he added.“At that time, 25 acres of forest department land was required for the project, and a land near Marungoor was also identified as compensation. However, no concrete measures were taken to implement the project,” he noted.Highlighting that Mukkadal dam was constructed during Travancore reign to cater an estimated population of 50,000 in Nagercoil, Mr. Chenbagasekara Pillai said that the population had increased considerably since then and the city had also expanded significantly in recent years.“The government must consider constructing a dam at Ulakkai aruvi, keeping the future requirements in mind. The Kodhayar irrigation dams, including Pechiparai and Perunchani are the backbone of agriculture in the district and their water should not be diverted for drinking water requirements at the cost of irrigation,” he said.Arun, a resident of Vadalivilai in Nagercoil Corporation said that the drinking water shortage during summer had become a recurring issue. He added that the district, which receives two monsoon rainfall, should plan its water resources effectively to meet the drinking water requirements of its growing population.Meanwhile official sources in Kanniyakumari district said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project estimated at ₹2,200 crore, was prepared last year.Speaking on this Kanniyakumari District Collector M. Prathap said that a DPR had been prepared by the Water Resource Department (WRD) last year and has been submitted to the government for approval. Published - August 08, 2026 08:22 pm IST