Periyar River Irrigation Systems Originating in Idukki

The Periyar river originates in the Periyar Tiger Reserve and flows through Idukki before descending to the plains. Traditional irrigation channels known as thodu and para were dug by farming communities centuries ago to divert Periyar water to paddy fields along the riverbanks. The Mullaperiyar reservoir, built under a 1886 agreement, diverts water eastward to the dry Madurai and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu, supporting 80,000 acres of paddy. Community water management bodies historically maintained the secondary channel network, resolving disputes through customary council decisions. The interplay of these traditional and modern hydraulic systems continues to shape agriculture across both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.