TN govt rules out irrigation water release as Lower Bhavani inflows remain poor
Erode, July 2
The Water Resources Department has ruled out the immediate release of irrigation water through both the Kalingarayan canal system and the Lower Bhavani Project canal system, citing critically low storage levels in the Lower Bhavani Dam and inadequate inflows from the catchment areas.
The department said water would be released for irrigation only after inflows into the reservoir stabilise, as the available storage is currently being conserved to meet drinking water requirements.
The decision has intensified concerns among farmers dependent on both irrigation systems, with rival farmer groups pressing competing demands over the utilisation of the limited water available in the reservoir.
A section of farmers under the Kalingarayan canal system has announced plans to launch an indefinite hunger strike from July 6 if irrigation water is not released by July 5. Farmers say the prolonged suspension of water supply has affected standing crops such as banana and sugarcane and disrupted preparations for the cultivation of turmeric and onion.
The Kalingarayan canal normally receives water from the Lower Bhavani Dam from mid-June, with supply continuing until the end of April. However, water release was stopped in March this year to facilitate canal renovation works.
Although officials had initially proposed resuming supply by the end of June after completing the maintenance works, the deteriorating water situation has forced the department to defer the plan indefinitely.
The situation at the reservoir remains grim. As of Tuesday, the Lower Bhavani Dam, which has a full storage capacity of 32.8 tmcft, held only 5.34 tmcft of water, while the inflow was a mere 81 cusecs following poor rainfall in the catchment areas.
Meanwhile, farmers under the Lower Bhavani Project canal system have opposed any move to release water through the Kalingarayan canal, arguing that the existing allocation of Cauvery waters and previous government orders should be strictly followed.
They have warned of protests, including road blockades, if water is diverted under the present circumstances.
The WRD officials said the current storage is sufficient only for drinking water needs and that irrigation releases cannot be considered until inflows increase substantially.
According to the department, a sustained inflow of around 5,000 to 6,000 cusecs would be required before water could be released for either the Kalingarayan or the LBP canal systems.
Officials added that renovation works on the Kalingarayan canal are nearing completion, enabling immediate water release once reservoir conditions improve.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a classic case of competing priorities - farmers vs. farmers and farmers vs. drinking water needs. The Kalingarayan canal farmers have been waiting since March for renovation work completion, and now they're told no water even after completion. Meanwhile LBP farmers are blocking any diversion. The WRD's figure of needing 5000-6000 cusecs inflow before release seems like a clever way to say "not happening anytime soon". Someone needs to find a middle path.
Every year it's the same story - monsoon fails, catchment areas get less rain, dam levels drop, and farmers suffer. We need long-term solutions like better water harvesting, desilting of dams, and maybe cloud seeding in catchment areas. Short-sighted planning over decades has created this crisis. 😔
The LBP farmers' argument about following existing allocations is valid, but so is the Kalingarayan farmers' need. The canal renovation was done at the right time (summer) but now the water isn't there. Honestly, this is a governance failure - why did they start renovation without ensuring water availability? And why no alternative arrangements for standing crops? The farmers bearing the brunt as always. 😠
Only 5.34 tmcft in a 32.8 tmcft dam - that's barely 16% storage! And inflow of just 81 cusecs vs requirement of 5000-6000 cusecs for release. Maths is clear - no water for irrigation for at least a month unless heavy rain comes. Kalingarayan farmers should consider this reality before going on hunger strike. But our politicians will do what they do best - make promises they can't keep and blame each other later. 😕
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