The PAP-Vellakovil Branch Canal - Veeranampalayam Village Water Users’ Association has called upon the Water Resources Department to ensure equitable water distribution to the command area of the branch canal.

Seeking joint monitoring and transparency, P. Velusamy, president of the association, said the issue was discussed at the recent meeting chaired by the Tiruppur District-In-Charge Minister K.G. Arunraj and that an assurance was given to the effect that the farmers will receive their due share of water at the zero point without any compromise.

The Minister had also mooted joint monitoring of the stretch of the PAP Main Canal by the Water Users’ Associations and the WRD with support from the Police Department.

For the forthcoming water distribution cycle, the prevalent disparity in water supply duration must be removed, and a uniform supply schedule must be maintained across the entire basin, Mr. Velusamy emphasised.

In a representation to the WRD, Mr. Velusamy sought the shift system chart for each wetting indicating the date and time of opening, duration of supply, and the discharge in cusecs.

Necessary instructions must be issued to all field officials for safeguarding the interests of thousands of farmers in the tail-end of the PAP Main Canal, he emphasised.

Farmers, he pointed out, were in favour of modernising the PAP Main Canal with primary focus on pipeline irrigation, to prevent unauthorised water extraction in the upstream. The Central Government’s ‘Per Drop More Crop’ outlook lays emphasis on micro-irrigation. Evaporation loss could be avoided, and the pipeline system would, besides enabling effective automation, require only minimal maintenance. Thereby, the need for dredging canals at high expenditure could be obviated. Also, pollution of the canal due to urbanisation could be prevented, and clean irrigation water could be distributed.

Other advantages include safeguarding lives of humans and livestock, better planning of irrigation and farm productivity, and prevention of disputes on water sharing among farmers and authorities, Mr. Velusamy explained.