Linking of Papanasam and Manimuthar dams may become a reality in near future

Minister Durai Murugan pushes for Papanasam and Manimuthar dam linking, urges officials to prepare detailed project report.

The dream and long-standing demand of linking the Papanasam and Manimuthar dams may become a reality in near future as Minister for Water Resources S. Durai Murugan has exhorted the officials to prepare at the earliest a detailed project report on connecting these two reservoirs to take the surplus water of one dam to the other.

During the review meeting held here on Saturday with District Collector R. Sukumar and senior officials of Water Resources Department, Mr. Durai Murugan said the possibilities of linking the Papanasam and Manimuthar dams, a long-standing demand of the public, especially from the farming community, needs to be explored for taking the surplus water of one reservoir to the other. Hence, the officials should prepare at the earliest the detailed project report on this ambitious proposal.

Moreover, steps should be taken to desilt all the eight irrigation channels – North Kodaimelazhagiyaan, South Kodaimelazhagiyaan, Nadhiyunni, Kannadiyan, Kodagan, Palayam, Tirunelveli, Marudhur Melakkaal and Keezhakkaal - under the Tamirabharani Irrigation Scheme at short notice, the Minister said.

When Tirunelveli MLA Nainar Nagenthran of BJP raised the demand of linking Papanasam and Manimuthar dams in the Legislative Assembly a few days ago, Speaker M. Appavu said the demand was being raised by the farmers for several decades.

“Since both the dams are located within the Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, the Union Government’s nod will be mandatory even if the State Government was ready to translate this dream into a reality,” Mr. Appavu said.

Immediately, Mr. Nagenthran assured in the Assembly that he would get the mandatory permission from the Central Government for executing the dam-linking works inside the KMTR if the Tamil Nadu Government was ready to allocate funds for the project.

Since Mr. Durai Murugan has instructed his officials to prepare the detailed project report on linking the two dams, it is believed that the Tamil Nadu Government is serious about going ahead with the proposal.