Storage capacity shrinks as demand for Malampuzha water surges

Palakkad: The Malampuzha dam in Palakkad has been a vital source for agriculture and drinking water since its inauguration in October 1955. However, increasing plans to divert its water for industrial purposes have raised concerns among stakeholders who rely on the dam for essential needs.

The dam was originally designed to supply water to 21,165 hectares of agricultural land. Of this, 17,200 hectares are served by the left bank canal, stretching from Peringottukurissi to Chulanur, while 3,965 hectares are irrigated via the right bank canal to Palappuram. The Bharathapuzha river supports 1,200 hectares under the Cheramangalam project.

Over the past seven decades, the extent of agricultural land has decreased, but the demand for water from the dam has remained consistent. With local irrigation ponds disappearing, reliance on the canal systems has significantly increased.

The dam's current storage capacity is 226 million cubic meters, but a 2019 study by the Kerala Engineering Research Institute revealed that 40 million cubic meters have silted up, reducing its effective capacity. As a result, the dam now stores approximately 223.6 million cubic meters of water.

For irrigation purposes, 180 million cubic meters are allocated for 90 days during the second crop season. An additional 40 million cubic meters are reserved for drinking water. Severe summers exacerbate water shortages, often necessitating alternative sources like Aliyar via Chittoorpuzha, as was the case last summer.

Currently, 76 million liters of water are drawn daily from Malampuzha for drinking purposes, amounting to approximately 30 million cubic meters annually. This supply supports Palakkad Municipality and six nearby panchayats.

In 2015, a government order allocated 10 million liters of water per day for industrial purposes under the KINFRA project, equating to 3.65 million cubic meters annually. However, this allocation remains unused as the project has not yet commenced. The shrinking storage capacity and growing demand underscore the urgent need for sustainable water management to ensure a balance between agricultural, industrial, and drinking water requirements.