Erode, August 16: The Tamil Nadu government has taken a significant step to support farmers by ordering the release of water from the Bhavanisagar Dam into the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal system for a duration of 15 days. This decision comes as a relief to farmers who have been urgently requesting water for irrigation.
Typically, water is released from the Bhavanisagar Dam for agricultural purposes every year on August 15. However, this year, uncertainty loomed due to the dam’s water level dropping below 60 feet and reduced water flow.
Until late Saturday night, the state government had not made any decision regarding the water release for irrigation, raising concerns among farmers in Erode district. They expressed that further delays could adversely affect their standing crops and upcoming agricultural activities.
In response to the demand for water, farmers reliant on the Lower Bhavani irrigation system staged protests near Erode. They called for at least a limited supply of water to save crops in areas facing a water crisis.
Following the farmers’ protests and petitions, Erode’s district collector, Kandasamy, announced a special irrigation arrangement. According to a statement released by the collector, water will be released from the Bhavanisagar Dam for 15 days based on a report from the water resources department.
This initiative is expected to benefit approximately 1,300 acres of agricultural land. Water will be released through the odd-numbered sluice gates of the Lower Bhavani main canal and the Chennasamudram distribution canal. Given the low water storage in the dam, officials have been instructed to manage the water flow carefully.
A sluice gate is a specialized gate that controls the flow of water in a dam, canal, reservoir, or river.
While this announcement has provided immediate relief to farmers, concerns remain regarding water availability for the rest of the farming season. Farmers have requested monitoring of water distribution to ensure it reaches the end of the canal without wastage or diversion along the way.
The Bhavanisagar Dam serves as a crucial irrigation source for Erode and surrounding districts. Any decrease in its water level directly impacts thousands of farming families dependent on the Lower Bhavani canal network.
Officials have urged farmers to use the available water judiciously, stating that future decisions on water releases will depend on rainfall in the catchment areas and the inflow into the dam.
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