Tamil Nadu delays irrigation water release from Lower Bhavani Dam amid low inflows

The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department has ruled out any immediate irrigation releases through both the Kalingarayan canal and the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal, citing critically low storage in the Lower Bhavani Dam and insufficient inflows. The reservoir, with a full capacity of 32.8 tmcft, holds only 5.34 tmcft and recorded an inflow of just 81 cusecs after poor rain.

The department says water will be retained for drinking needs and that irrigation releases can resume only when sustained inflows reach about 5,000‑6,000 cusecs. Farmers dependent on the canals, whose standing crops of banana, sugarcane, turmeric and onion are already affected, have threatened an indefinite hunger strike starting 6 July and warned of protests and road blockades if water is not released. Renovation work on the Kalingarayan canal is near completion, allowing a prompt release once reservoir conditions improve.