Former Minister K. Krishnankutty Urges Government Action Over Water Sharing Dispute with Tamil Nadu

Former Minister K. Krishnankutty has called for urgent government intervention to address a water shortage affecting farmers in Keralam, alleging that Tamil Nadu is not adhering to water sharing agreements. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, September 12, 2026, Krishnankutty stated that water from irrigation dams is being diverted to Tamil Nadu, which he claims is pushing the farming community toward ruin.

According to Krishnankutty, the Chittur region is facing a crisis because Tamil Nadu released only 100 cubic feet of water during a 15 day period when 400 cubic feet were agreed upon under the Parambikulam Aliyar agreement. He reported that this shortage has forced farmers to abandon approximately 50,000 acres of cultivation, resulting in an estimated loss of 150 crore rupees. He further alleged that water from the Parambikulam Dam is being diverted into the Cauvery Basin and that the Aliyar dam is not being maintained at levels necessary to support farmers in Palakkad.

Krishnankutty criticized the current state government for a lack of intervention, noting that previous water shortages were resolved through high level meetings between the Chief Ministers of Keralam and Tamil Nadu. He urged the current administration to take the issue to the Chief Minister level to secure the full share of water. He also attributed the crisis to a grave lapse in management by officials and the Inter State Water Wing.

Reporting on the event differed in focus based on political lean. The center left coverage framed the issue primarily as a violation of an agreement by Tamil Nadu that is directly threatening paddy crops. In contrast, the center right coverage framed the issue as a failure of internal government management and a lack of leadership by the current Chief Minister.