Benefits of Cauvery-Gundar linking project elude farmers in Krishnarayapuram

The landscape of Krishnarayapuram Assembly constituency in Karur district is dotted with irrigation canals, tanks, and lakes and waterbodies. Located on the banks of the Cauvery, it is here that the Kattalai High Level Canal, New Kattalai High Level Canal, South Bank Canal, and North Bank Canal from Mayanur barrage branch off on either side of the Cauvery. Though the channels carry water for irrigation in Karur, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai districts, the benefit eludes farmers of Krishnaryapuram.

The constituency (SC) that extends from Krishnarayapuram and Mayanur in the north to Kadavur in south is primarily agrarian. While a section of villages, particularly in Krishnarayapuram panchayat union, are located on the banks of the Cauvery, the villages and towns in Kadavur panchayat union are located in arid landscape. Despite proximity to the Cauvery, many villages and towns in the constituency face a shortage of drinking water, making it a major poll issue. Voters complain that successive governments and elected representatives had failed to ensure the supply of Cauvery water to the villages and towns.