A view of the Lower Bhavani Project canal in which water was released and stopped recently to save standing crops in Erode district in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M.
Farmers and stakeholders in the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) Canal ayacut area have appealed to the State government to release special irrigation water to the remaining 50% of the command area that did not receive water under the special release made in view of the prevailing drought.In a representation addressed to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay through the Executive Engineer, Lower Bhavani Basin Division, Erode, the Keel Bhavani Murai Neer Pasana Vivasayigal Kootamaippu and the Lower Bhavani Farmers Federation said the LBP irrigation system covered 2.07 lakh acres and its command area had been divided into two zones for rotational water supply.They said that inadequate rainfall during the southwest monsoon had resulted in poor storage in Bhavanisagar dam. Considering the drought and the need to meet drinking water requirements and to protect standing crops, special irrigation water was released from the dam on the evening of August 15. The release was stopped on the morning of September 1.According to the representation, the special release benefited only about 50% of the LBP ayacut, covering approximately 1.035 lakh acres. Water was supplied through the even-numbered sluices in the Chennasamudram distributary canal and the odd-numbered sluices in other areas. The petitioners said the remaining 1.035 lakh acres had not received the special supply, affecting crops and drinking water availability in these areas.They urged the government to release special irrigation water to the remaining 50% of the ayacut, particularly through the odd-numbered sluices of the Chennasamudram distributary canal and the even-numbered sluices in other areas. Such a release would benefit the entire 2.07 lakh acres, they said, and urged the government to issue immediate instructions to the officials concerned. Published - September 08, 2026 07:18 pm IST
