Kalingarayan, LBP farmers spar over water release at grievance meeting in Erode
A farmers' grievance meeting in Erode turned tense as representatives from the Kalingarayan and Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) irrigation systems clashed over water distribution from the Bhavanisagar Dam. LBP farmers argued that current water allocation is inequitable and violates historical agreements, while Kalingarayan farmers pushed for continued supply.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the ongoing challenges of water resource management and inter-regional competition for irrigation in agricultural sectors.
Tension prevailed for a while at the monthly farmers’ grievance redressal meeting held in Erode on Friday (July 17) after farmers from the Kalingarayan and Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) irrigation systems pressed their respective demands over the release of water from the Bhavanisagar Dam.
The meeting, chaired by District Collector S. Kandasamy, was briefly disrupted as more than 300 LBP Canal farmers gathered outside the hall seeking permission to participate. Since the hall was occupied by Kalingarayan farmers presenting their grievances, officials asked the LBP farmers to wait outside, triggering a heated exchange. Later, after the Kalingarayan farmers concluded their representations, over 100 LBP farmers were allowed into the meeting hall.
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