Latest news with #KeelBhavaniAyacutNilaUrimaiyalargalSangam
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Erode farmers seek CM's intervention to renovate LBP Canal
Citing frequent breaches in the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) main canal that are disrupting agricultural activities, farmers have urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to initiate a comprehensive renovation project and ensure consistent water supply in the district. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister and submitted to the district administration on Wednesday (August 6, 2025), members of the Keel Bhavani Murai Neer Pasana Vivasayigal Kootamaippu and the Keel Bhavani Ayacut Nila Urimaiyalargal Sangam said the ayacut areas were facing acute water shortage. They said crops had withered over the past four months, resulting in financial losses. Surplus water is being released from Bhavanisagar Dam and farmer associations requested the government to utilise the water. Following repeated appeals, water was released from the Dam into the canal on July 31, earlier than the customary date of August 15. However, a breach at the 13th mile of the canal at Vandipalayam in Sathyamangalam taluk led to substantial water loss before it could reach the farmlands. The letter pointed out that between 2021 and 2025, six major breaches had occurred in the main canal after water release for irrigation. The farmers urged the Chief Minister to investigate the cause of these recurring breaches, particularly since the government had already spent ₹710 crore on canal renovation. They also noted that the government had informed the Madras High Court of its readiness to allocate an additional ₹200 crore for the project. 'Despite these investments, the canal has lost its operational efficiency,' the letter stated. 'Instead of renovating the entire canal as recommended by hydrology experts, the work appears to have been done selectively based on the preferences of local residents,' it added. The letter further expressed concern about the canal's ability to supply water throughout the irrigation season. This uncertainty, it said, has created serious anxiety among farmers, many of whom are now hesitant to transplant paddy or continue with cultivation.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Farmers seek early release of water into LBP canal amid favourable monsoon
With sufficient water available in the Bhavanisagar Dam and the prevailing favourable southwest monsoon, farmers have urged the State government to advance the release of water into the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal to August 1, instead of the customary date of August 15. In petitions submitted to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin through the district administration on Monday, members of the Keel Bhavani Murai Neer Pasana Vivasayigal Kootamaippu and the Keel Bhavani Ayacut Nila Urimaiyalargal Sangam pointed out that the monsoon has been favourable across the State, and the dam's water level stands at 97.56 feet, against its full reservoir level (FRL) of 105 feet. The current storage is 26.86 tmc ft, compared to the dam's total capacity of 32.8 tmc ft. They noted that the reservoir may soon reach full capacity, after which surplus water will be discharged into Bhavani River. The petitioners highlighted that crops such as sugarcane, turmeric, banana, tapioca, and coconut, extensively cultivated in the LBP canal ayacut areas, are suffering due to severe water scarcity. Many crops have already withered, and farmers are staring at substantial financial losses. In view of these conditions, the petition urged the government to release water from the dam into the canal starting August 1. It proposed that water be released into the LBP main canal through the 'odd' numbered sluice gates, and into the Chennasamudram canal through the 'even' numbered sluice gates from August 1 to 10. This move, they said, would benefit nearly one lakh acres currently experiencing water shortage. Subsequently, from August 10 onwards, the water release schedule could be reversed, using the 'even' numbered sluice gates for the LBP main canal and the 'odd' ones for the Chennasamudram canal, for the remainder of the irrigation season.
