AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has requested the Tamil Nadu government to promptly reopen the Mettur dam to safeguard paddy crops in the Cauvery delta districts. Palaniswami, during a visit to Vannarapettai, highlighted the need for water to prevent potential losses for thousands of farmers. He emphasized the importance of releasing water for irrigation to support the maturation of crops.
Several farmlands in the region are already showing signs of stress due to insufficient irrigation, as observed by Palaniswami. He stressed the urgency expressed by farmers for water supply to sustain their crops for at least 20 more days. Without immediate irrigation, there is a risk of crop failure, leading to significant financial setbacks for farmers who have heavily invested in their cultivation.
Palaniswami emphasized the necessity for the State government to allocate water from the Mettur dam for irrigation purposes for a minimum of 20 days. He underlined the critical role of saving the samba paddy crop for both farmers’ livelihoods and the state’s food security. The AIADMK leader reiterated that swift government action is vital to prevent distress among farmers and a potential agricultural crisis in the delta districts.
