The Communist Party of India (CPI) launched a padayatra at Mangalapuram in Sathyamangalam South Union of Erode district on Sunday (August 9, 2026), demanding the implementation of the Pandiyar-Moyar river-linking project.The padayatra, part of the CPI’s campaign from August 6 to 14, was led by South Union secretary Sivaraj. A.N. Asaithambi, retired Additional Director of Agriculture and coordinator of the movement seeking the river link, flagged it off.Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Asaithambi said the Bhavanisagar dam, built at the confluence of the Bhavani and Moyar rivers, catered to the irrigation needs of 2.5 lakh acres, besides serving as a source for several combined drinking water supply schemes and the Athikadavu-Avinashi project.He said reduced inflow into the dam during years of deficient rainfall affected irrigation in Erode, Tiruppur, and Karur districts, while the demand for water had been increasing due to new drinking water supply and groundwater recharge schemes. He said the Pandiyar originated in the Nilgiris and joined the Punnampuzha before entering Kerala and flowing into the Arabian Sea as the Chaliyar. Around 14 tmc ft. of water was estimated to flow into the sea annually.“Diverting the Pandiyar water to the Moyar and augmenting inflow into the Bhavanisagar reservoir would help meet irrigation and drinking water requirements,” he said. He urged the State government to consider constructing dams, tunnels or pipelines, depending on the terrain, to divert the water.CPI district leaders K. Sakthivel, S.C. Nataraj, R. Stalin Sivakumar, and C. Ravichandran participated. The padayatra passed through Arasur, Indiyampalayam and Ukkaram before concluding at Shenbagapudur. Published - August 10, 2026 05:51 pm IST