Kerala’s Silandhi Check Dam Approval Sparks Controversy with Tamil Nadu
A potential interstate water dispute, Kerala has received approval from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to construct a check dam across the Silandhi river in Vattavada village, located in the hill district of Idukki. This decision, which could escalate tensions with neighbouring Tamil Nadu, comes after two years of objections from the southern state, which fears that the dam may disrupt the water supply to the Amaravathy Dam, potentially putting thousands of acres of farmland at risk.
The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has confirmed that the NBWL has granted approval to use 0.0442 hectares of forest land from Anamudi Shola National Park to build a weir across the Silandhi river. The project, which is part of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), is designed to address the severe drinking water crisis in Vattavada and nearby villages, including the popular hill station of Munnar. Kerala officials maintain that the environmental impact is minimal, but this project is expected to heighten the ongoing water dispute between the two states. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the proposal, citing fears that it would reduce the inflow of water to the Amaravathy Dam, which serves as a crucial source of irrigation and drinking water for residents in the Tiruppur and Karur districts. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, MK Stalin, has written to Kerala’s Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, urging an immediate halt to the construction of the check dam. The state’s opposition parties, led by former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, have echoed these concerns, warning that the project could endanger the water security of over 55,000 acres of farmland and the drinking water supply for thousands of people.
Sivakumar Velu, a farmers’ leader from Tiruppur, voiced his alarm about the potential consequences. “If Kerala’s plans succeed, not a drop of water will reach the Amaravathy dam,” he said. His concerns are not unfounded, as a decade ago, Kerala constructed a check dam on the Pambaru river, which also disrupted the water flow into the Amaravathy Dam, despite strong opposition from Tamil Nadu. Velu added that farmers in Tamil Nadu could suffer severe consequences if this new project goes ahead. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had previously intervened in the dispute, directing Kerala’s Water Resources Department and Forest Department to ensure all necessary approvals were obtained before proceeding with the construction. The NGT also instructed that the project be suspended if approvals were not in place. Despite the controversy, the NBWL’s approval has now allowed the KWA to proceed with the weir, which will be 45 metres long and one metre high, with an estimated annual water consumption of 0.02 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) from the Pambar sub-basin, in line with the Cauvery River Basin water-sharing agreement.
KWA officials have stressed that the amount of water drawn from the Silandhi river will remain within the limits set by the Cauvery Tribunal, and that the construction of the weir will help stabilise water levels and ensure continuous water extraction. KWA managing director, K Jeevan Babu, confirmed that the dam would be crucial in stabilising water levels in the region to alleviate the ongoing drinking water crisis in the area. However, tensions are likely to continue to rise as the project progresses, with Tamil Nadu urging legal action and seeking to protect its water resources. While Kerala argues that the dam is essential for ensuring reliable water access in its rural areas, Tamil Nadu remains firmly opposed, citing potential harm to the water security of its own residents. As the situation unfolds, the two states will likely engage in further legal and political battles over the Silandhi check dam’s construction, underscoring the delicate balance of managing shared water resources in India.
