Historic irrigation lifeline turns into sewage carrier, farmers blame lack of enforcement

Historic Kalingarayan Canal, once vital for irrigation, now suffers severe pollution from sewage and waste, alarming farmers and residents.

The 743-year-old Kalingarayan Canal is choking under relentless pollution, with farmers alleging that unchecked dumping of sewage and waste has reduced the historic irrigation source into a virtual drain.

Once hailed as an engineering marvel of the 13th century, the 90.5-km canal, constructed in 1283, runs from Kalingarayanpalayam in Bhavani to Kodumudi and irrigates 15,473 acres across Erode, Modakkurichi and Kodumudi taluks. Today, large stretches of the canal remain severely polluted.

Farmers say pollution intensifies once the canal enters the city limits, where untreated sewage and effluents from textile processing units and tanneries are indiscriminately discharged into the waterway at multiple points. In addition, poultry waste, plastic, debris, and waste from meat and vegetable shops are dumped at will by residents.

Illegal dumping is rampant at Suriyampalayam, Karungalpalayam, Vairapalayam, Karavaikal, Konavaikkal and Vendipalayam, all densely populated localities. Farmers further alleged that waste is transported from nearby Pallipalayam in Namakkal district and dumped into the canal during night.

Residents said the foul smell has become unbearable in several stretches, raising concerns about public health and possible groundwater contamination. Farmers added that polluted water affects soil fertility and crop productivity, forcing many to depend on borewell irrigation.

“The canal has turned pitch black. The water is unfit even for agricultural use,” said Vaiyapuri, a farmer at Karungalpalayam. He alleged that sewage from within the Corporation limits flows directly into the canal and that residents openly dump garbage along its bunds.