The Chalakkudy River Protection Forum has urged the Kerala government to secure the state’s full water allocation from the Sholayar sub-basin under the Parambikulam–Aliyar Project agreement, warning that the reported shortfall could intensify summer water stress in the Chalakudy river basin.
The forum has called for Tamil Nadu to be stopped from diverting water from the Upper Sholayar Reservoir until Kerala receives its entire entitled share. The demand follows the forum’s assessment that Kerala received 180 million cubic metres (Mm³) between July 1 and October 14 during the current water year, against an annual allocation of 348Mm³.
According to the activists, the allocation under the Parambikulam–Aliyar Project agreement is 12,300 million cubic feet, equivalent to 348Mm³. The water is to be made available at the Sholayar Power House through natural inflows from Kerala Sholayar’s catchment and releases from Tamil Nadu’s Sholayar Reservoir.
The forum said the agreement requires Kerala’s allocated quantity to be supplied between July 1, the beginning of the water year, and February 1. Tamil Nadu, it said, is entitled to divert only the surplus remaining after Kerala’s full share has been provided.
The activists reported that Tamil Nadu’s Sholayar Reservoir held 37Mm³ as of October 15. On the basis of those figures, Kerala would still require 168Mm³ to reach the allocation cited by the forum. They said the available storage could make it difficult for Kerala to receive the remaining quantity, even if the northeast monsoon performs strongly.
The forum has alleged that Tamil Nadu already diverted a substantial volume from the Sholayar Reservoir through Parambikulam in violation of the agreement and that the diversion was continuing. The supplied report does not include a response from Tamil Nadu authorities or an independent government confirmation of the allegation.
The dispute has direct implications for the Chalakudy river system, where activists say water availability during the summer has increasingly depended on releases from Kerala Sholayar Reservoir. They also stated that the Chalakudy River has suffered an average annual loss of 450Mm³ since the Parambikulam–Aliyar Project was implemented.
The forum warned that the reported deficit could leave the Chalakudy River basin facing severe summer water stress unless Kerala receives its full allocation from the water currently held in Tamil Nadu’s Sholayar Reservoir, along with future inflows. It has asked the state government to intervene immediately, protect Kerala’s rights under the inter-state agreement and ensure release of the entire allocated share.
