T.N. Assembly election 2026: Amaravathi sugar mill revival, drinking water issues dominate in Madathukulam constituency

Revival of Amaravathi sugar mill and drinking water shortages are critical issues in Madathukulam constituency, impacting farmers and residents.

The functioning of the Amaravathi Cooperative Sugar Mill has emerged as a key issue in the Madathukulam Assembly constituency, with farmers seeking its revival to support sugarcane cultivation and ensure stable returns, even as concerns over drinking water supply and the lack of tourism development persist.

Located along the southern side of Tiruppur district, the constituency is predominantly rural, with agriculture as the mainstay, and sugarcane, coconut, paddy and vegetables cultivated across the region.

The Amaravathi and Thirumoorthy dams, which irrigate about five lakh acres, fall within its limits.

Formed in 2011 after delimitation, Madathukulam was carved out of the Udumalpet constituency. Nearly 90% of the area comprises villages, and it includes 18 hill habitations inhabited by tribal communities within the Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

C. Mahendran. File | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

According to government data, Tiruppur district has 3,484 hectares under sugarcane, with a productivity of 117 tonnes per hectare. Farmers say the cooperative sugar mill has been operating with machinery installed over 70 years ago, resulting in a decline in crushing capacity. While crushing operations continued until 2023, extraction levels dropped. Since October 2024, the distillery division has been producing rectified spirit and ethanol using molasses sourced from other mills in the State.