The Water Resources Department (WRD) has ruled out the immediate release of irrigation water through both the Kalingarayan canal system and the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal system, citing critically low storage levels in the Lower Bhavani Dam and inadequate inflows from the catchment areas.
The department said water would be released for irrigation only after inflows into the reservoir stabilise, as the available storage is currently being conserved to meet drinking water requirements.
The decision has intensified concerns among farmers dependent on both irrigation systems, with rival farmer groups pressing competing demands over the utilisation of the limited water available in the reservoir.
A section of farmers under the Kalingarayan canal system has announced plans to launch an indefinite hunger strike from July 6 if irrigation water is not released by July 5. Farmers say the prolonged suspension of water supply has affected standing crops such as banana and sugarcane and disrupted preparations for the cultivation of turmeric and onion.
The Kalingarayan canal normally receives water from the Lower Bhavani Dam from mid-June, with supply continuing until the end of April. However, water release was stopped in March this year to facilitate canal renovation works.
Although officials had initially proposed resuming supply by the end of June after completing the maintenance works, the deteriorating water situation has forced the department to defer the plan indefinitely.
The situation at the reservoir remains grim. As of Tuesday, the Lower Bhavani Dam, which has a full storage capacity of 32.8 tmcft, held only 5.34 tmcft of water, while the inflow was a mere 81 cusecs following poor rainfall in the catchment areas.
Meanwhile, farmers under the Lower Bhavani Project canal system have opposed any move to release water through the Kalingarayan canal, arguing that the existing allocation of Cauvery waters and previous government orders should be strictly followed.
They have warned of protests, including road blockades, if water is diverted under the present circumstances.
The WRD officials said the current storage is sufficient only for drinking water needs and that irrigation releases cannot be considered until inflows increase substantially.
According to the department, a sustained inflow of around 5,000 to 6,000 cusecs would be required before water could be released for either the Kalingarayan or the LBP canal systems.
Officials added that renovation works on the Kalingarayan canal are nearing completion, enabling immediate water release once reservoir conditions improve.
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