---
title: "Tiruvannamalai Farmers Protest Land Seizure for Nandan Link Canal Infrastructure"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/tiruvannamalai-farmers-protest-nandan-link-canal-acquisition-22z8q
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-08-06T19:31:23.000Z
modified: 2026-08-06T22:01:14.753Z
language: en-IN
---

# Tiruvannamalai Farmers Protest Land Seizure for Nandan Link Canal Infrastructure

Agricultural workers near Sathanur dam staged a demonstration against the Water Resources Department's plan to acquire 355 acres of farmland. While officials claim the project will revive a historic irrigation system, locals fear the permanent loss of their generational livelihoods.

## Key takeaways

- Farmers in 14 villages are protesting the loss of generational agricultural land to the Water Resources Department.
- The Nandan Link Canal project aims to revive a defunct 18th-century British irrigation system using monsoon surplus.
- Government officials are proceeding with land surveys despite formal objections from local residents regarding their livelihoods.
- The 28.95-km project will link the Sathanur dam to Samudram lake through a two-phase construction plan.

## Conflict Over Agricultural Land Rights

Farmers from villages surrounding the Sathanur dam gathered before the Revenue Divisional Officer in Tiruvannamalai this Thursday to voice their opposition to the Nandan Link Canal project. Organized by local farmer G. Suresh Babu, the protesters argue that the multi-crore infrastructure initiative threatens to destroy vast tracts of productive soil that have been cultivated for generations. Despite formal objections submitted by landholders, residents report that revenue officials have moved forward with preliminary tasks, including village surveys and boundary marking.

## Project Scope and Technical Objectives

The Water Resources Department (WRD) intends to acquire approximately 355 acres spanning 14 villages to facilitate the 28.95-kilometer project. According to S. Sakthi Selvam, Assistant Engineer for the WRD in Kilpennathur, the initiative seeks to capture surplus Northeast monsoon rainwater to replenish the currently defunct Nandan Canal. Officials contend that the project will eventually bolster regional groundwater levels and increase the total area available for cultivation by utilizing the Samudram lake as a primary confluence point.

## Phased Infrastructure Development

The engineering plan is divided into two distinct construction stages. The initial phase involves a 12.45-kilometer main canal stretching from Sathanur dam to Pachal village. This 12-meter-wide waterway is designed to discharge excess flow into the Palar and Cheyyar rivers. The second phase features a 16.5-kilometer branch link canal that connects directly to the Samudram lake, with dimensions varying according to the local topography.

## Historical Context of the Nandan Canal

Originally established in the late 18th century during the British era, the Nandan Canal served as a vital water source for 120 villages across the Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts. At its peak, the system fed 36 irrigation tanks and supported roughly 6,500 acres of farmland. The new link canal aims to reconnect this historic route, which originates from the Thurinjalaru River, to the modern Sathanur reservoir system to restore its former utility.

## Key Facts

- The proposed acquisition impacts 355 acres of land across 14 separate villages.
- The Nandan Link Canal project spans a total distance of 28.95 kilometers.
- Construction is split into two phases: a 12.45-km main canal and a 16.5-km branch canal.
- The original Nandan Canal system dates back to the late 1700s.
- Officials aim to use the canal to divert surplus monsoon water to the Palar and Cheyyar river systems.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/tiruvannamalai-farmers-protest-nandan-link-canal-acquisition-22z8q
Reported from: The Hindu — National