Lower Bhavani reservoir sees sharp rise in water level amid heavy rain

The Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) Reservoir in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district has witnessed a rapid increase in water levels following intense rainfall in its catchment areas, particularly in the Nilgiris district.  

 

Officials from the Water Resources Department reported that inflow surged significantly after midnight on Saturday, reaching 4,792 cubic feet per second by Sunday morning. This pushed the water level to 70.38 feet, with a total storage of 11.11 thousand million cubic feet.  

 

The LBP dam, constructed across the Bhavani River at Bhavanisagar, plays a crucial role in irrigation for farmers in Erode, Tiruppur, and Karur districts. Over three lakh acres of farmland in Erode alone benefit from its water supply.  

 

During the summer, dwindling water levels had forced authorities to restrict releases, with only 100 cusecs being discharged to meet drinking water needs in Sathyamangalam, Gobichettipalayam, and Bhavani taluks. However, with the recent surge, farmers are hopeful that irrigation releases will resume soon.  

 

Officials are closely monitoring the situation, expecting further increases in inflow due to continued heavy rainfall forecasts for Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts.  

 

Sources: The Hans India, The Print, DT Next.