Ponnaniyar's New Flow: Cauvery Lift Scheme DPR Ready

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Tamil Nadu government for a proposed lift irrigation scheme aimed at diverting surplus Cauvery water during flood periods to the Ponnaniyar Dam in Karur district.

Constructed in 1976 between the Perumalmalai and Semmalai hills near Vaiyampatti, the Ponnaniyar Dam serves downstream regions in Tiruchirappalli district. However, due to poor inflows, it remained largely underutilized and was only reopened for irrigation in April 2025 after a 13-year gap. Local farmers had long urged the government to channel excess Cauvery water into the dam and the nearby Kannuthu tank to support agriculture.

Following a ₹83 lakh preliminary study, the DPR proposes drawing water from the Cauvery River at Mayanur—located 52 km from the dam—and conveying it via a pipeline network routed upstream of the Mukkombu regulator, where the Kollidam River branches off.

The project is expected to benefit several villages, including Elamanam, Palayakkottai, Mugavanur, and Sekkanam. It will enable irrigation of 2,101 acres dependent on the Ponnaniyar Dam and an additional 733 acres served by the Kannuthu tank.

The plan was recently reviewed by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi along with local stakeholders, signaling the government's commitment to enhancing irrigation infrastructure in drought-prone regions.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.