The district administration has stepped up measures to prevent water theft from the Bhavani river, given that storage in the Bhavanisagar Dam is lower than it was in the corresponding period last year.

In a release, District Collector S. Kandasamy said water was currently being released from the Bhavanisagar Dam into the river to meet drinking water requirements and to support dry-land irrigation through the Thadapalli and Arakkankottai canals.

A monitoring team, comprising officials from the Revenue, Water Resources, Electricity and Police departments, has been constituted to prevent unauthorised lifting of water using electric pumps along both the banks of the river between Bhavanisagar and Kalingarayanpalayam, he said.

The team would conduct daily patrols along the riverbanks and take action against those found illegally drawing water for irrigation. Such farmers would be booked, and their free agricultural power connections would be cut, the District Collector said.

Published - August 19, 2026 07:46 pm IST