The proposed desilting of 1,801.27 km of irrigation canals linked to Thirumoorthy Dam in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district has not begun despite a ₹14.98 crore estimate, prompting farmers to stage a sit-in and political leaders to demand immediate funding. The canal network serves about 2 lakh acres of agricultural land, according to a statement reported by Dinamalar.
Annamalai, identified in the report as the head of the V T Leaders organisation, urged the Tamil Nadu government to release the funds and begin the work on an emergency basis. His demand follows a reported protest by farmers at the canal irrigation office a day earlier.
The proposed work covers the second and third irrigation zones of the Thirumoorthy Dam system. The Water Resources Minister had announced during the department’s demands for grants that a proposal for special desilting work, estimated at ₹14.98 crore, was under consideration. However, the report said that funds had not yet been allocated and that work had not started.
The canals are intended to carry water from the reservoir to agricultural areas in Tiruppur district. The reported concern is that accumulated silt and poor canal conditions could obstruct the movement of water, particularly during periods of drought or low rainfall. Farmers have warned that water may not reach the tail-end areas of the irrigation network if desilting is delayed.
Annamalai said the irrigation system’s dependence on the canals makes the issue directly connected to farmers’ livelihoods. He also pointed to the time required after the release of funds: according to his statement, completing the work would take at least a month after financial approval and commencement.
The dispute highlights the administrative gap between announcing a proposed public works project and releasing the funds required for execution. In this case, the reported estimate has been publicly identified, but the supplied report does not provide a government order confirming the allocation, a contractor appointment, or a work commencement date.
The farmers’ protest and the demand for urgent desilting now place the next step with the state Water Resources Department and the government’s funding process. The immediate milestones are the release of the ₹14.98 crore allocation, approval of the canal works and the start of desilting across the identified irrigation zones.
