Farmers raise concern over illegal water drawal from Bhavanisagar Dam

While farmers in Erode district wait their turn for limited water supply during notified irrigation periods, a few farmers have reportedly been drawing several lakh litres of water every day from the Bhavanisagar Dam by installing two 3 HP motors in the water spread area. Farmers’ associations have expressed shock over the alleged preferential access and raised concerns over lax enforcement and monitoring by the authorities.

The Bhavanisagar Dam, also known as the Lower Bhavani Dam, built across the River Bhavani, is the first major irrigation project executed in the State after Independence (1948–1955). It is the second-largest reservoir in Tamil Nadu, with a capacity of 928 million cubic metres. The reservoir spread area at full reservoir level (105 ft) is 78.76 sq. km. Water from the dam is supplied to three ayacut systems — the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) Canal, which irrigates 2.07 lakh acres in three districts; the Kalingarayan Canal, covering 15,743 acres; and the Thadapalli and Arakkankottai channels, which irrigate 24,504 acres.

‘Unauthorised extraction’

According to locals, a few farmers owning between 50 and 150 acres of land near Kanrayanmokkai village in Periyakallipatti panchayat of Bhavanisagar block have been illegally drawing water directly from the reservoir spread area. They have reportedly installed motors and pump water through pipelines to their farmlands. Local residents claim that such unauthorised extraction has been continuing for several years using electricity connections obtained for patta lands. Banana and mango are predominantly cultivated in these fields, which receive a continuous water supply. The motors are mounted on trolleys, enabling them to be shifted as the water level in the reservoir recedes.

Locals further allege that officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD), the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO), and other concerned departments are aware of the illegal activity, which has been continuing for years.

Condemning the practice, T. Subbu, district secretary of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, demanded strict action and effective monitoring to permanently stop the illegal drawal of water by a few farmers. “The officials concerned should act without delay,” he said.

Members of various farmers’ associations pointed out that illegal extraction of water from rivers and water bodies is rampant across the district and urged the district administration to implement the Madras High Court order issued in October 2021. The court had directed the authorities to conduct periodic inspections, prevent illegal extraction of water, and register criminal cases against violators.

When contacted, a senior WRD engineer told The Hindu that monitoring was being carried out regularly to check illegal extraction and that action was taken against offenders whenever violations were detected.

On Friday (January 2, 2025), at noon, the water level in the Bhavanisagar Dam stood at 97.35 ft, with storage at 26.70 tmc ft against the total capacity of 32.80 tmc ft. The inflow was 5,983 cusecs, while the total discharge was 800 cusecs.