Cauvery Delta Farmers Urge Reopening of Mettur Dam for Irrigation Water
Farmers across the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu have intensified their demands for the reopening of the Mettur dam and the resumption of water releases for irrigation purposes. This pressing appeal comes after the dam's sluices were closed on January 28, 2025, following their scheduled opening on June 12, 2025. District administrations have joined the chorus, formally requesting the Water Resources Department (WRD) to address the farmers' urgent needs.
Critical Water Requirements for Paddy Crops
The closure has left thousands of farmers in a precarious position, as they require an additional four to six weeks of irrigation water to successfully harvest their samba and thaladi paddy crops. Currently, the Mettur dam holds approximately 55.4 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water, which is significantly below its full capacity of 93.4 tmcft. The inflow into the dam is measured at a mere 48 cubic feet per second (cusecs), while the outflow stands at 1,553 cusecs.
Agricultural patterns in the region have been disrupted by unusual weather conditions. While kuruvai farmers completed their harvests in September and October 2025, heavy rains severely affected the cultivation of thaladi crops. Many farmers initiated sowing around December, and those who lost their crops due to the rains had to start anew.
Farmers' Personal Struggles and Dependence on Cauvery
V Ramasamy, a 61-year-old farmer from Mohanur in Nagapattinam district, exemplifies the challenges faced by the agricultural community. He cultivated ADT-45 paddy, a variety with a 115-120 day growth cycle, on 50 acres just 50 days ago. His crops are currently in the vegetative phase and require approximately two more months to reach maturity.
"We depend entirely on Cauvery water for irrigation because the groundwater in our area is saline," explained Ramasamy. "To bring our crops to harvest, we need water for at least six more weeks."
In response to these concerns, collectors from the delta districts have written to the WRD, advocating for the continued release of Cauvery water. Their recommendations are based on inputs from the agriculture and farmers' welfare department.
Official Stance and Current Water Distribution
WRD officials have acknowledged the requests but emphasized the need to maintain sufficient water reserves in the Mettur dam to meet drinking water requirements during the upcoming summer months. An official pointed out that the dam is not completely closed, with about 1,500 cusecs still being released, primarily in response to district administration appeals and available for irrigation use.
However, farmers remain dissatisfied, arguing that the current outflow is insufficient and fails to reach tail-end areas of the irrigation network. "We need between 7,000 to 10,000 cusecs of outflow from the Mettur dam for at least two to three weeks," stated P R Pandiyan, General Secretary of the Thamizhaga Kaviri Vivasayigal Sangam.
Extent of Crops and Regional Impact
The water scarcity is affecting a vast agricultural landscape. Approximately five lakh hectares of samba and thaladi crops were sown in the delta this season. A significant portion of these crops remains unharvested across multiple districts:
- 95% in Nagapattinam
- 90% in Tiruvarur
- 85% in Mayiladuthurai
- 75% in Thanjavur
- 70% in Trichy
- 40% in Cuddalore
Current water flow measurements indicate the Cauvery river is carrying 702 cusecs, the Vennar river 52 cusecs, and the Grand Anicut canal 610 cusecs. The disparity between available water and agricultural needs highlights the critical nature of the farmers' demands as the harvest season approaches.
