Retracting from its earlier stand that the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) agreement ceased to exist long ago because of Tamil Nadu’s unresponsiveness to requests for periodic renewal, Water Resources Department has begun efforts to revive the inter-State water-sharing agreement with minor modifications and in a way beneficial to both States.
In an official reply to Chittur-based farmers’ leader P.M.Y Mansoor’s memorandum urging the State government to sign a fresh accord, keeping in view the acute scarcity of water for drinking-water and irrigation purposes in Chittur taluk, the Additional Chief Secretary (in-charge of Water Resources) has made it clear that the government was not giving priority to a fresh accord. On the other hand, the State government has initiated talks with Tamil Nadu to revive the existing PAP agreement safeguarding the interests of both States, the letter said.
Drought-hit
The government is changing its stand at a time when farmers in the eastern regions of Palakkad district have voiced their concern over Tamil Nadu’s continuing violation of PAP accord by denying the due share of water from the Aliyar reservoir to drou ght-hit areas of Chittur taluk. Tamil Nadu’s reluctance to share PAP water has resulted in crop loss in a vast stretch of paddy fields.
While agreeing to Tamil Nadu’s demand for review of the existing accord without initiating process for a new accord, Kerala hopes the neighbouring State would not object to its project to set up a new hydro-power project using waters from the Anamalayar. On the other hand, Kerala has already agreed to release 2.5 tmcft water from the Anamalayar through a new dam to water-starved regions of Coimbatore and Tirupur districts in Tamil Nadu.
The PAP accord, which came into force in 1958,
pertains to the sharing of water resources of rivers in the Bharathapuzha, Chalakudy, and Periyar basins and needs to be reviewed periodically. The accord was formally signed in 1970 with retrospective effect and was due for review in 1988. Though discussions were held at that time, no review or modification was done due to lack of unanimity over contentious issues.
Basins
The Anamalayar (Periyar basin), the Sholayar and Parambikulam (Chalakudy basin), and the Aliyar (Bharathapuzha basin) come under the agreement.
As per the agreement, Tamil Nadu’s entitlement had been fixed at 30.5 (tmcft) and Kerala’s around 20 tmcft. Though the Anamalayar scheme was part of the PAP accord, it had not been implemented despite Tamil Nadu’s demand for more water.
