Furnishing data of the Water Resources Department (WRD) on zone-wise distribution, the PAP Vellakovil Branch Canal (Kangayam-Vellakovil) Water Conservation Association has urged the State government to ensure equitable water distribution to the ayacut of Vellakovil Branch, before the commencement of Second Zone irrigation.The farmers of Vellakovil Branch ayacut, who are dependent on the water for cultivation in 48,000 acre, have been facing enormous financial, physical and mental hardship for the past decade, in the absence of intended outcome despite repeated representations to the WRD, meetings with authorities, democratic protests and legal proceedings.P. Velusamy, president of the association, said that despite the Minister In-Charge for Tiruppur District K.G. Arunraj assuring, at a meeting with farmers of PAP Vellakovil Branch Ayacut on June 10, that the disparity in water distribution would be rectified by the district administration, there was no indication that a final decision had been taken on the issue.The government has to intervene to ensure that the assurance is translated into a clear and time-bound decision, so that the farmers do not suffer any further, Mr. Velusamy said.The water distribution data furnished subsequently at the insistence of the Minister does not reflects disparity in distribution to the branch canals.The long-standing grievance of the tail-end farmers is that the water utilisation in the upper reaches is substantially higher, causing inadequacy at the end-point ayacut.A meeting of 134 water users’ association did not result in meaningful consultation.“We are not seeking any special favour or preferential treatment. We seek only our equitable share of PAP water, based on official data, past distribution history, and established principles of equitable distribution,” Mr. Velusamy said. Published - September 01, 2026 12:59 am IST