The opposition from the farmers in the district to Kerala's proposal to build a dam across Bhavani river at Attapadi intensified as the farming community fears that the move may deprive them of water for irrigation. Most of the farmers in the district depend on the Bhavani river for their irrigation needs. The river is the primary water source for over 2.5 lakh acres of lands in Erode and neighbouring Tiruppur and Karur districts. Water is being drawn from the Bhavanisagar Reservoir, which is built across the Bhavani River, to feed over 2.5 lakh acres that fall under the Lower Bhavani Project ayacut and the three old ayacuts - Thadappalli, Arakkankottai and Kalingarayan. “The construction of dam at Attapadi would affect water flow into Bhavani river, which in turn affect the farmers depending on the river to irrigate their lands. The Kerala government's move is very unfortunate,” Lower Bhavani Farmers Association president S. Nallasamy said. Mr. Nallasamy appealed to the Central government to intervene in this issue and prevent Kerala government from constructing a dam across the river at Attapadi. District Secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association T. Subbu said the livelihood of thousands of farmers in the district would be affected if the Kerala government went ahead with its proposal. Erode is primarily an agrarian district and more than 80 percent of the people depend on the agriculture sector for their livelihood. Apart from affecting the drinking water supply to Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts, the Kerala's move, if implemented, would slowly destroy the economy of Erode district, Mr. Subbu said. Many farmers associations had decided to organise a series of protests urging the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre to prevent the construction of dam across the Bhavani river at Attapadi. Meanwhile, Erode Member of Parliament A. Ganeshamurthi condemned the Kerala government's move and said that his party (MDMK) would hold a massive demonstration in front of the Erode Head Post office on June 27 to create awareness among the farmers about the move. Most of the farmers in the district depend on Bhavani river for their irrigation needs