Fri Jan 02 09:38:05 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

A few farmers in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu, India, are allegedly illegally drawing water from the Bhavanisagar Dam, a crucial irrigation source for the region. Using 3 HP motors and pipelines, they reportedly extract several lakh liters of water daily, impacting the water available to other farmers who rely on the dam’s notified irrigation periods. Local farmers’ associations are outraged, alleging that authorities are aware of the situation but have failed to take effective action despite a High Court order mandating regular inspections and prevention of illegal water extraction.

News Article:

Illegal Water Extraction Sparks Outrage in Erode as Farmers Accuse Authorities of Inaction

ERODE, January 2, 2026 – Farmers’ associations in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, are up in arms over the alleged illegal extraction of water from the Bhavanisagar Dam, a vital irrigation source for the region. Reports indicate that a select group of farmers, owning large tracts of land near Kanrayanmokkai village, are siphoning off lakhs of liters of water daily using 3 HP motors and pipelines connected directly to the reservoir.

The Bhavanisagar Dam, the second-largest in Tamil Nadu, irrigates over 2.4 lakh acres through various canal systems. Farmers dependent on these systems are now concerned that the unauthorized water withdrawal is jeopardizing their own access to water during the designated irrigation periods.

“This blatant disregard for regulations is shocking,” said T. Subbu, district secretary of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam. “The authorities must act decisively and put an end to this illegal practice immediately.”

Local residents claim that this illicit activity has been ongoing for years, with the farmers using electricity connections obtained for their land to power the motors. They allege that officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) are aware of the situation but have turned a blind eye.

Farmers’ associations are further frustrated by the lack of enforcement of a 2021 Madras High Court order that mandates regular inspections and criminal prosecution of those found illegally extracting water from rivers and water bodies.

A senior WRD engineer, when contacted, stated that monitoring is conducted regularly and action is taken against offenders when violations are detected. However, farmer groups argue that the scale of the alleged illegal extraction suggests that the current monitoring efforts are inadequate.

As of noon on January 2, 2026, the water level in the Bhavanisagar Dam stood at 97.35 ft, with a storage of 26.70 tmc ft.

Read More