Water Release to Kalingarayan Canal Deferred as Bhavanisagar Dam Storage Drops

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has postponed the scheduled release of water into the Kalingarayan Canal, originally set for June 28, due to inadequate storage in the Bhavanisagar Dam.

The canal, which irrigates approximately 15,743 acres in Erode district, supports the cultivation of paddy, banana, sugarcane, turmeric, and other crops. Typically, water is released into the canal from June 16 each year and continues until April 30.

This year, the WRD is carrying out development works, including concrete lining, along a 4.5-km stretch of the canal. About 50% of the work has been completed. In view of the ongoing works, the department had rescheduled the release to June 28, and farmers had begun preparing for cultivation. However, following a sharp decline in inflow into the dam, the department decided to postpone the release.

According to WRD officials, the water level in the dam stood at 54.20 feet at 8 a.m. on Friday (June 26, 2026), with a storage of 5.51 tmc ft. Of this, about 2 tmc ft is dead storage and cannot be used for irrigation. The inflow into the dam was 59 cusecs, while 450 cusecs was being discharged into the Arakkankottai and Thadapalli canals and 100 cusecs into the Bhavani river to meet drinking water requirements.

Releasing water into the Kalingarayan Canal under the current storage conditions could affect drinking water supply, officials said. They added that the dam usually receives an average inflow of around 1,100 cusecs in June and about 3,000 cusecs in July. This year, inflow has remained well below normal, resulting in poor storage. A revised date for the release of water into the canal will be announced after reviewing the storage position in the dam, the officials added.