Following the release of water from Pechiparai dam on June 1 (Sunday) for irrigation purposes across the district, farmers’ express their concerns over canal breaches and the need for desilting the canals to ensure water reached all the parts of the district.

The water which was released on June 1 is scheduled to continue till February 28, 2026 for the irrigation of around 79,000 acre agricultural lands in the district. At the time of release it was said that the flow would be managed at 850 cusecs, depending on the necessity and availability of water in the dam.

However, minor breaches in the canals across the district has raised concerns above the farmers, that the water would not reach the respective main and branch canals.

A.Vins Anto, Chairman of Kodayar Irrigation Project Committee, said that the restoration of work of “Ulli Malai” brook at the Anathanar canal near Surulacode was still ongoing and had been delayed due to the rain and other factors. He added that expediting the work on the brook would help in the free flow of water in the canal, or the government should take alternative ways for the water to reach the farmers in the region.

He added that other than main canals, there are more than 50 branch canals in the district, and efforts should be taken to restore those canals aswell.

Thanappan, a farmer from Suchindram highlighted the delay in restoration of Manakkudiankaal and Parakkinkaal canals, which serves as the major irrigation source for the paddy cultivation and coconut cultivation in the area. He added that most parts of these canals were either overrun by bushes and weeds or encroached upon. “Adequate steps should be taken to restore these canals, for the water to reach all the parts of the district,” he noted.

Similarly Kanniyakumari constituency MLA N. Thalavai Sundaram on Monday (June 2) inspected unresolved breaches in the area, two kilometers from the Puthanar dam, specifically 600 Padian canal to Anathanar canal. During the time of inspection he noted that the Water Resource Department (WRD) had failed to take precautionary measures to prevent such breaches.

Speaking on this an official from the WRD department said that breach repair and other works at the canals across the district were ongoing and that water was being released only in Nanjilnaadu Puthanar canal. The official added that for the remaining canals water would be released in the remaining canals between June 7 to 10 after restoration works were completed. The restoration of the branch canals would also take up soon, the official added.