Cauvery Water Release Brings Limited Hope for Tamil Nadu Farmers

Farmers in Tamil Nadu await the arrival of water released from the Kabini reservoir in Karnataka, estimated to reach Biligundulu, the river's entry point, by Tuesday morning. Despite this anticipated flow, farmers are sceptical about its impact, as they believe that it may take several days for the water to raise levels sufficiently in the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur, necessary for irrigation.

Current reports indicate that the water level at Mettur Dam stands at 73.18 feet, significantly below the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 120 feet. For effective irrigation, the level needs to exceed 90 feet. Leaders from local farmers’ associations have voiced concerns that even if water reaches the fields by August, it may be too late for short-term crop cultivation known as kuruvai. Many of these crops have already withered due to inadequate water supply.

P R Pandian, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers’ Association, commented, “If water is released from the Mettur Dam in mid-August and is sustained, we can hope for decent samba (long-term crop). We can start direct sowing.” The current discharge from the Kabini reservoir is reported at around 25,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs), a rate expected to improve once releases from the Krishnarajasagara dam also commence.

Water Resource Department officials elaborated that if the flow remains constant, it would take about seven to eight days for the Mettur Dam's water level to rise sufficiently for irrigation. They stated that an increase of approximately four feet would occur with sustained water discharge over a 24-hour period.

Farmers wish for a strategic, well-defined government plan to ensure a continuous water supply throughout the season, particularly for areas in the Nagapattinam district, where countless farmers are prepared for the much-anticipated Cauvery water. Farmers’ associations have reported a significant drop in the area cultivated for kuruvai this year, decreased from 6.33 lakh acres in 2022 to approximately 2 lakh acres.

The outlook remains uncertain, with farmers expressing a critical need for reliable water management as they strive for a successful samba cropping season. Amidst the challenges, there is hope that with adequate planning and timely releases, the agricultural landscape in the region can be revitalised.