Tiruppur Farmers Protest Over Delayed Water Project

The Anamalaiyaru-Nallaru water project is a component of the broader Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP), an interstate water-sharing agreement signed between Tamil Nadu and Kerala with retrospective effect from 1958. This complex project integrates eight west-flowing rivers to divert water to the drought-prone regions of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode in Tamil Nadu, while also supporting irrigation in Kerala's Chittoorpuzha valley. Under the original 1958 pact, Tamil Nadu was granted rights to construct the Anamalaiyaru and Nallaru dams after Kerala completed its Idamalayar dam. Kerala finished the Idamalayar dam in 1985, but the Anamalaiyaru-Nallaru project has since been stalled due to ongoing interstate disagreements and a lack of political consensus, leading to decades of delay. The delay means a significant volume of water, which farmers argue rightfully belongs to Tamil Nadu under the agreement, is lost to the Arabian Sea. Estimates suggest the completion of the Anamalaiyaru dam alone could secure an additional 2.5 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water for the region, with the Nallaru dam further increasing this yield. This unrealized water potential is critical for Tiruppur, a major textile and knitwear export hub that faces acute water shortages. The local textile industry's high water consumption, coupled with pollution of the Noyyal River from industrial effluents, has severely stressed both surface and groundwater resources, impacting agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Farmers contend that the project would significantly alleviate water scarcity for approximately 4.5 lakh acres of agricultural land in the Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts that depend on the PAP for irrigation. The proposed dams would also shorten the distance water needs to travel to key reservoirs, such as the Thirumurthy reservoir, from over 80km to just 17km, improving efficiency. Recent developments indicate that the Tamil Nadu government is renewing its focus on the project, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stating that talks are underway with the Kerala government to finally move forward. However, farmers remain skeptical after years of inaction and are demanding a firm, public timeline for the project's completion.