The Micro-level Reappraisal study of Parambikulam Aliyar river basin undertaken by the Water Resources Department in 2021 has determined the lower limit of water needs for cultivation based on drip-irrigation method than the conventional method.
If the objective of better yield for a drop of water is to be achieved, then comparatively less water consuming practices of cultivation are to be considered for future planning purposes, it states.
The report acknowledges exhaustion of engineering solutions to meet demand for more water supplies, citing absence of suitable sites for new reservoirs and optimal utilisation of all run-off in a catchment
Depending on the availability, water is released for 14 days on alternate day basis. While serving the zones spread over the entire length of the canal, though the benefit of recharge of groundwater due to continuous flow in the full length of the canal has been realized, the impact is not noticeable along all branches and distributaries as many segments of them remain dry for more than a year at a stretch.
The report calls for solutions that engage many individuals and groups through changes to development planning and natural resources management, and a stronger emphasis on demand management.
The flows in the rivers of the PAP system are regulated and diverted by the storage / diversion structures which have been constructed with the intention to serve the drought prone areas in the Cauvery basin also. Part of the area irrigated by the PAP system fed by the canals taking off from the Thirumurthy Reservoir viz., Parambikulam Main Canal, Udumalpet Canal and the High level Canal falls in the Cauvery basin. The total command area spread over in Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur districts of Tamil Nadu lies both in “Parambikulam Aliyar basin” and Cauvery basin. The command area of the Parambikulam Main Canal system has been grouped into four near equal zones in a manner convenient for facilitating the supply by rotation. The extent of command area, under PMC fed by Thirumurthy reservoir, under the four zones are 98,558 acres, 98,418 acres, 94,024 acres, 86,152 acres respectively, totalling to 3,77,152 acres.
Published – February 05, 2025 10:18 pm IST