Keralam and Tamil Nadu to Hold Water Meeting
Officials plan to discuss allegations of water diversion from the Sholayar sub-basin.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Current Conditions
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Keralam and Tamil Nadu are planning a Joint Water Regulation Board meeting to resolve disputes regarding water sharing. The meeting is set to address allegations that Tamil Nadu diverted water in violation of the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project agreement.
Why it matters
Farmers in Chittur and Nemmara are concerned that insufficient water supplies will jeopardize their second crop season. Keralam claims that Tamil Nadu has failed to provide the full share of water mandated under their regional agreement.
Keralam is entitled to an annual allocation of 12,300 million cubic feet, or 348 million cubic metres, of water. The Sholayar reservoir currently holds approximately 50 million cubic metres of water.
The players
Joint Water Regulation Board
This body manages water distribution and regulatory oversight between Keralam and Tamil Nadu.
The details
Keralam alleges that water was diverted from the Upper Sholayar reservoir to the Parambikulam reservoir, leading to a shortfall. The water levels in the Chalakudy river are expected to decrease in the coming weeks as a result of these allocation issues.
Timeline
July 1 to Feb 1 marks the mandatory water delivery period per the agreement.
185 million cubic metres of water were delivered between July 1 and October 6.
November 9 or November 13 are the proposed dates for the upcoming Joint Water Regulation Board meeting.
Water levels in the Chalakudy river are expected to dip in the coming weeks.
Seasonal Patterns
The dispute follows established protocols within the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project agreement, which governs water sharing between the two states. This disagreement represents a significant deviation from the historic water management patterns usually seen during the agricultural season.
Residents and farmers in Chittur and Nemmara should prepare for potential water shortages in the coming weeks. Local authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the water level in the Chalakudy river is expected to drop further.
The takeaway
The upcoming meeting highlights the ongoing tensions between regional water needs and legal delivery obligations. Farmers are advised to plan for reduced irrigation capacity until an official resolution is reached.
Further reading
Read more about water management disputes and regional trends in our Current Conditions section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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