Historic irrigation lifeline turns into sewage carrier, farmers blame lack of enforcement

The 743-year-old Kalingarayan Canal is choking under relentless pollution, with farmers alleging that unchecked dumping of sewage and waste has reduced the historic irrigation source into a virtual drain.

Once hailed as an engineering marvel of the 13th century, the 90.5-km canal, constructed in 1283, runs from Kalingarayanpalayam in Bhavani to Kodumudi and irrigates 15,473 acres across Erode, Modakkurichi and Kodumudi taluks. Today, large stretches of the canal remain severely polluted.

Farmers say pollution intensifies once the canal enters the city limits, where untreated sewage and effluents from textile processing units and tanneries are indiscriminately discharged into the waterway at multiple points. In addition, poultry waste, plastic, debris, and waste from meat and vegetable shops are dumped at will by residents.

Illegal dumping is rampant at Suriyampalayam, Karungalpalayam, Vairapalayam, Karavaikal, Konavaikkal and Vendipalayam, all densely populated localities. Farmers further alleged that waste is transported from nearby Pallipalayam in Namakkal district and dumped into the canal during night.

Residents said the foul smell has become unbearable in several stretches, raising concerns about public health and possible groundwater contamination. Farmers added that polluted water affects soil fertility and crop productivity, forcing many to depend on borewell irrigation.

“The canal has turned pitch black. The water is unfit even for agricultural use,” said Vaiyapuri, a farmer at Karungalpalayam. He alleged that sewage from within the Corporation limits flows directly into the canal and that residents openly dump garbage along its bunds.

Expressing his frustration, P. Loganathan, a farmer from Parisalthurai, said the public had “completely forgotten the value of a 13th-century lifeline.” “There is absolutely no civic sense. People dump waste whenever and wherever they please,” he charged. Empty plastic bottles and sachets have accumulated in large quantities, becoming entangled in water hyacinth and severely obstructing the free flow of water.

Attempts by Public Works Department officials to install iron barricades at Karungalpalayam to curb dumping reportedly failed recently due to resistance from local residents. Though a vehicle operator was fined ₹3,000 for attempting to dump waste into the canal, farmers said such isolated action was grossly inadequate. Calling the situation alarming, farmers demanded stringent enforcement, round-the-clock monitoring and coordinated action by all departments concerned.

When contacted, officials said measures were being taken to prevent sewage discharge and that inspections were being intensified.

Notably, the Kalingarayan anicut and channel system was declared a World Heritage Irrigation Structure by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage in 2021, underscoring its global historical and engineering significance. Kalingarayan Kalvai Pasana Vivasayigal warned that unless immediate corrective measures are taken, irreversible ecological and agricultural damage could threaten thousands of acres dependent on the canal.