Farmers of the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal staged a siege protest at the Water Resources Department (WRD) office in the Collectorate on Friday (July 24), demanding the release of “life-saving” irrigation water from the Bhavanisagar Dam for 15 days to save standing crops on the 2.07 lakh-acre command area.

Led by farmers’ association leaders C. Nallasamy, E.V.K. Shanmugam and M. Ravi, the protesters alleged that the State government failed to implement the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which provided for 27.95 tmcft. of water to the LBP irrigation system and 8.13 tmcft. to the Old Bhavani irrigation systems, besides revising the crop pattern in the three Bhavani irrigation systems.

They alleged that while the Old Bhavani irrigation system, covering 41,247 acres, received around 30 tmcft. of water annually, the 2.07 lakh-acre LBP new ayacut was allotted the same quantity. They further claimed that water was being released to the Old Bhavani ayacuts during summer in violation of the tribunal award and the 1924 Cauvery Agreement, while the LBP new ayacut was denied even “life-saving” irrigation despite standing crops.

The farmers also alleged that the WRD took contradictory stands on water management before the Supreme Court and LBP farmers, and that water was being released throughout the year for industries and unauthorised irrigation along the Bhavani river while the new ayacut was denied its legitimate share.

During talks, the WRD Superintending Engineer assured them that a decision on releasing water would be taken and announced on August 6. Subsequently, the farmers withdrew the protest.