The Attappady irrigation Project a medium Irrigation project envisages the construction of a concrete gravity dam across Siruvani river, a tributary of Bhavani river at Chittur in Agali village of Mannarkkad Taluk in Palakkad district of Kerala state. The dam will impound 65 Mm3 (2.29TMC) of the awarded share of water from Bhavani river basin as against the award of 2.87 TMC as per the final order of Cauvery Dispute Tribunal (CWDT). Attappady area in Palakkad District, is a drought prone tribal area.  Demographically 40% of the population in Attappady area are tribals, who are generally backward, living below poverty line, and depend on cultivation and Cattle rearing.  The catchment area is subjected to a high intensity of rainfall characteristics of Western Ghats region where as the command area (4255ha) is a rain shadow region having relatively poor rainfall intensity. There are no major/minor water retaining structures in the command area of the project.  Most of the available Irrigation facilities are private owned lift Irrigation system which are confined to small patches.

The investigation of Attappady Valley Irrigation Project (AVIP) started way back in 1970. Location of the dam was investigated with the assistance of Geologists from Geological Survey of India. After finalization of the dam location and alignment, necessary steps for the speedy completion of the project were carried out from 1976 on wards. Land acquisition for the project was carried out by Special land acquisition Tahsildar, AVIP and acquisition procedure was initiated for the land for the submersible area of dam, canals, office and quarters etc. Basic infrastructure facilities like office buildings, inspection bungalows and quarters for supervising staffs were also constructed.

The Central water commissions clearance was not obtained for the project, for want of Final order of CWDT. Due to the non clearance by CWC and paucity of funds,the work relating to AVIP was held up since1989. The final order of CWDT was released on 05.02.2007. In the final order of CWDT, Kerala was awarded 6TMC from the Bhavani river basin and 2.87TMC is specifically awarded to the AVIP dam project.Now the DPR of the project is submitted to CWC for approval.