The Chitturpuzha, one of the tributaries of Bharathapuzha originates from the Anamalai hills of Tamil Nadu. In the Tamil Nadu area the river is called as Aliyar and when it enters Kerala it is called as Chitturpuzha. 

The project presently consists of following systems:- 1) Moolathara regulating system with left and right bank canals. 2) Kunnamkattupathy regulating system. 3) Thembaramadakku regulating system 4) Nurnee - Alankadavu system 5) Nurnee regulating system 6) Meenakshipuram Lift Irrigation scheme The project is managed on the basis of an agreement executed by Govt. of Tamil Nadu and Govt. of Kerala on Parambikulam - Aliyar Project Water utilisation. The water for the scheme is released as per the above agreement by keeping fortnightly account. The total quantity being released annually to Chitturpuzha project is 205.30 Mm3 (7250 Mc ft). The total ayacut of the project is 20440ha (including MRBC) located in Palakkad, Chittur and Alathur Taluks in Palakkad District. There are two main canals starting from the Moolathara Regulator namely Left bank canal and Right bank canal. The other systems namely Kunnamkattupathy, Thembaramadakkau, Nurnee - Alankadavu, Nurnee, etc have its own canal systems. 

This project was planned to be up in two stages viz. (I) Diversion Scheme (II) Lift Irrigation Scheme. The Stage I was started in 1963 and was completed in 1972 except few works of minor importance. Thus the diversion Scheme is in operation for the last 33 years or so. The stage II, Meenakshipuram Lift Irrigation Scheme is a part of the Chitturpuzha project and was completed in the year of 1991. The current system mainly consist of one regulator at Moolathara with two canal systems at left and right banks, one lift irrigation Scheme at Meenakshipuram and four diverting systems from river at Kunnamkattupathy, Thembaramadakku, Nurnee - Alankadavu, and Nurnee..