Farmers oppose land acquisition for proposed Nandan Link Canal project in Tiruvannamalai

Villagers near Sathanur dam staged a protest against land acquisition for the proposed Nandan Link Canal project on Thursday, citing concerns over the impact on their agricultural livelihoods. The project, to be executed by the Water Resources Department (WRD), aims to rejuvenate the defunct Nandan Canal using surplus rainwater.

The identified land for the multi-crore project spans 355 acres in 14 villages between Sathanur dam and Samudram village, a distance of 28.95 kms. Farmers argue that acquiring agricultural lands would deprive them of their means of sustenance, questioning what alternative work they could undertake. The main canal, spanning 12.45 kms, and a new link canal, covering 16.5 kms, are set to be constructed as part of the project.

The Nandan Canal, once a lifeline for 120 villages in Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai districts, was built in the late 18th century and irrigated around 1,500 acres in Tiruvannamalai and 5,000 acres in Villupuram district during its peak years.