Illegal Canal Pumping Hit by Power Cuts as Water Scarcity Grips Kalingarayan Region

Enforcement Against Unauthorized Water Extraction

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has ordered the immediate disconnection of power to 633 pump sets found illegally extracting water from the Kalingarayan Canal. This enforcement action stems from a joint surveillance operation conducted by the WRD alongside the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL). Investigators identified these unauthorized setups spanning the district, where pipelines were utilized to divert canal water directly into private wells.

Climate Stress and Infrastructure Challenges

The irrigation crisis was exacerbated by a deficient southwest monsoon, which significantly reduced the storage capacity of the Bhavanisagar Dam. On July 14, authorities released water into the Kalingarayan Canal explicitly for protective irrigation of standing crops. Despite water flowing through the system for the past 15 days, tail-end farmers reported they were not receiving their fair share, as widespread siphoning upstream disrupted the intended distribution.

Regulatory Response and Future Deterrence

WRD officials confirmed that those using the electricity service connections for water theft had been warned previously. The current drive aims to stabilize the supply for vulnerable agriculturalists at the end of the canal reaches. Key findings from the recent inspections include:

• Identification of 633 specific sites involved in illegal pumping.
• Evidence of permanent pipelines installed for canal-to-well water transfer.
• Direct correlation between unauthorized activity and low water levels at downstream farms.

The WRD is coordinating with power utility providers to ensure these disconnections are executed promptly, signaling that further legal measures will follow against repeat offenders to protect the regional irrigation network.

Source: The Hindu — Home