The 15-day water release from Bhavanisagar dam into the Lower Bhavani Project canal in Erode was stopped on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M
The 15-day release of water from the Bhavanisagar dam to save standing crops ended at 6 a.m. on Tuesday amid allegations by the Lower Bhavani Irrigation Protection Movement that the Water Resources Department (WRD) had failed to ensure adequate supply to the tail-end areas of the irrigation system.In a release, the movement attributed the shortfall to poor water management and alleged illegal diversion of water. It said its members, along with tail-end farmers, had been patrolling the canal at several locations as water was not reaching the tail-end areas.During a patrol on the night of August 26, the group claimed to have found more than 50 black plastic pipes being used to divert around 300 cusecs of water from the main canal through a rainwater drainage outlet at the 29.5-mile point. It alleged that the diversion was carried out with the support of WRD officials. The group said its members intervened to stop the diversion and a case was registered against those involved. It also sought departmental action against a WRD Assistant Engineer, alleging that he had facilitated the diversion.The movement further alleged that WRD officials subsequently closed regulators at several locations, affecting water flow to the tail-end areas. A branch canal at the 75.3-mile point was closed on August 27, prompting farmers to stage a protest the next morning.According to the group, the police intervened and urged WRD officials to ensure that water reached Odanilai, the tail-end area. The regulator was opened on August 28 but was allegedly closed again the following night.On August 30, farmers approached the regulator and demanded that it be opened. The movement alleged that, after engineers failed to respond to repeated calls, the official handed over the key to the farmers, who opened the regulator and later returned the key.The group also alleged that the Assistant Engineer and the regulator lodged a complaint against its coordinator, Tamilarasan, in retaliation for the protests. It demanded withdrawal of the complaint and proper regulation of water to the tail-end areas.It may be recalled that water was not released for irrigation on the customary date of August 15 owing to poor storage in the dam. Following protests by farmers seeking water to save standing crops and meet the needs of cattle, the release was made for 15 days from August 15. Published - September 01, 2026 07:34 pm IST
