Palar River

Palar is a river of southern India. It rises in Nandi Hills, India in Kolar district of Karnataka state,^[1] and flows 93 km in Karnataka, 33 km in Andhra Pradesh and 222 km in Tamil Nadu before its confluence into the Bay of Bengal at Vayalur about 100 km south of Chennai.^[2] It flows as a Guptagamini (underground course) for a long distance only to emerge near Bethamangala town, from where, gathering water and speed, it flows eastward down the Deccan Plateau. The cities of Ramanaickenpet, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Vellore, Melvisharam, Arcot, Walajapet (Anaicut), Kanchipuram, and Chingleput are located on banks of Palar River. Of all the total of seven tributaries, the chief tributary is Cheyyar River.

Controversial Dam

Andhra Pradesh Government is constructing an irrigation dam across Palar at Ganeshpuram, near Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh which has caused agitation among the people of the five northern districts of Tamil Nadu, namely Vellore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Thiruvallur and Chennai benefited by the river. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha voiced her opposition to this proposal and said "Palar is an inter-state river and was also one of the rivers mentioned in Schedule A annexed to the 1892 agreement which it was in force. As per a clause of the agreement, the upstream state should not build any new dam or any structure to obstruct, divert, or store waters of the rivers without the consent of the downstream state".^[3][4]

The average rainfall in entire Palar river basin is low. This river basin used to suffer from frequent droughts. However, Karnataka and Tamilnadu have mitigated frequent recurrence of droughts by developing innumerable minor and medium irrigation tanks. This has improved the availability of water for surface as well as ground water irrigations. As per the wet land atlas of India.^[5], the manmade wet lands are covering extensive area (3% to 5%) in the districts of Karnataka and Tamilnadu covering Palar river basin. Whereas the palar basin in Andhra Pradesh is not well covered by wet lands which implies that the river water usage in Andhra Pradesh is not up to the mark compared to Karnataka and Tamilnadu. In the year 1892 when the Palar waters agreement was made, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh were part of then Madras Presidency. The 1892 agreement is not valid unless ratified by the new states

Documentary

A documentary called "En Peyar Palar" produced by Social Action Movement and Water Rights Protection Group, Chengalpattu and released on 30 June 2008 chronicles the plight of the river from its origin in Karnataka till it joins Bay of Bengal. The 85 minute documentary delves into how activities such as sand quarrying and discharge of industrial effluents are sucking the life out of one of Tamil Nadu’s prime sources of drinking water. It was directed by R.R. Srinivasan.^[6]

This River is so important for irrigation in the north and south Arcot districts of Tamil Nadu, but it flows a meager of 50 km in Andhra Pradesh, the Palar river had been seen dry for almost 20 years. Palar has been home for mud robbery and other illegal activities.

References

1. ^ Palar river
2. ^ Dam across the Palar is not feasible: State officials
3. ^ TN against AP making dam on Palar river
4. ^ "Ponnala defends dam across Palar". The Hindu. 26 September 2010. http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/26/stories/2010092660370500.htm. Retrieved 21 may 2011. 
5. ^ Wet lands of India 2011: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/node/18315
6. ^ A documentary charts the plight of Palar

External links

• The Palar research program by French CNRS. This website describe geographic questions about Palar country.