Bhavanisagar Dam Water Release Raised to 2,100 Cusecs to Save LBP Crops

In response to persistent demands from farmers, the Tamil Nadu government has increased the water release from the Bhavanisagar dam into the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal to 2,100 cusecs. The decision, effective from Monday, August 17, aims to protect standing crops across the command areas in Erode, Karur, and Tiruppur districts.

The Bhavanisagar dam is a critical irrigation source for about 2.07 lakh acres under the LBP system. It also feeds the Kalingarayan, Arakkankottai, and Thadapalli canal networks. This year, however, poor storage in the reservoir forced authorities to delay the scheduled releases into these canals, causing anxiety among farmers who depend on the water for their crops and cattle.

Farmers had staged protests on three separate occasions, urging the government to release water to save standing crops and meet the drinking water requirements of livestock. Their appeals were finally heeded on August 15, when the administration authorised a 15-day special wetting operation covering 1,03,500 acres. Initially, the discharge into the LBP canal was fixed at 500 cusecs at 5 p.m. on August 15. Over the following days, the flow was progressively increased, reaching 2,100 cusecs by Sunday and Monday. Officials have indicated that the release will be maintained at 2,300 cusecs going forward.

As of 2 p.m. on Monday, the water level in the Bhavanisagar dam stood at 57.25 feet, well below its full reservoir level of 105 feet. The inflow into the reservoir was recorded at 1,233 cusecs. While the LBP canal receives the increased quota, about 700 cusecs are being simultaneously released into the Arakkankottai and Thadapalli canals for irrigation, and another 100 cusecs into the Bhavani river to meet drinking water needs.

The reservoir's current storage is 6.40 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft), against its total capacity of 32.80 tmc ft. This deficit underscores the challenges faced by water managers in balancing the needs of agriculture, drinking water supply, and the limited available resources. The increased release, though beneficial for farmers, will further deplete the already low storage, raising concerns about the sustainability of water supplies in the coming months.

Agricultural experts note that the timing of this release is crucial for the standing crops, particularly the short-term and medium-term paddy varieties that require adequate moisture at this stage. However, they also caution that the long-term outlook depends on the monsoon performance and judicious management of the remaining reservoir reserves.

The state government's decision highlights the importance of responsive governance in addressing agrarian distress, especially in regions heavily dependent on irrigation projects. For now, farmers in the LBP area have received some relief, but the larger issue of water scarcity remains a pressing concern for the region.