The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry has postponed the approval of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the ₹1,875-crore Koraiyar reservoir project in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district. This decision came during a recent meeting where the committee urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) to explore alternative sites outside the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR).
The proposed project aims to construct a reservoir across the Koraiyar River at Vickramasingapuram in Ambasamudram taluk . It is designed to irrigate a cultural command area of 9,091.5 hectares (ha), utilizing monsoon flood flows from Koraiyar, a tributary of the Tamirabharani River. reservoir, with dam height of 43 meters, is expected to support irrigation,flood moderation, and groundwater recharge.
Currently, the project would expand the irrigated area from 1,225.66 ha to 9,091.5 ha,significantly benefiting drought-prone regions in Alangulam, Manur, and Tirunelveli taluks . Farmers in these areas have long sought reliable irrigation solutions. The initiative is also anticipated to stabilize existing irrigation systems, enhance groundwater recharge, and mitigate downstream flooding.
However,the EAC expressed serious concerns regarding the ecological ramifications of the project, given its location within the KMTR,a protected area of considerable ecological importance . This reserve is home to various species, including tigers and Nilgiri langurs,along with a diverse range of endemic flora and fauna. The committee noted that project would require 819.21 ha of land, which includes 186.74 ha of forest land and 632.48 ha of non-forest land . anticipated submergence area would cover 278.11 ha,with 156.44 ha of that being reserve forest .
Additionally,the committee pointed out that the project proponent had not yet applied for Stage-I forest clearance,which is crucial for any development within forested areas. The EAC criticized the lack of thorough examination of alternative options to achieve the proposed irrigation benefits, suggesting that the WRD consider reservoir sites in the headwaters of the Chittar basin. Such alternatives could potentially enhance capacity of the Manur and Pallamadai tanks while minimizing environmental impacts and reducing overall investment costs .
During discussions, the committee also proposed relocating the dam to other undammed tributaries of the Chittar river basin, which would significantly lessen the impact on wildlife habitats and protected ecosystems. In deferring proposal,the EAC instructed WRD to conduct a comprehensive analysis of alternatives,including various project locations, configurations,and designs. This analysis should be supported by site-specific studies,maps,and detailed technical,ecological,and economic comparisons.
Furthermore,the EAC requested a thorough justification for the project's location within the tiger reserve,emphasizing the need for an assessment of potential impacts on tiger habitats and other ecologically significant species. The outcome of this review could determine the future of Koraiyar reservoir project and its implications for both local agriculture and conservation efforts .
