Farmers in the Cauvery delta districts of Tamil Nadu are requesting the state government to prolong the release of water from the Mettur dam until the end of February. They highlight delays in Samba paddy cultivation due to adverse weather conditions and previous crop damage. The traditional water release schedule from the Mettur reservoir for Kuruvai and Samba cultivation is usually halted by the end of January.
Farmers emphasize that the ongoing agricultural cycle has been severely disrupted, rendering the usual timetable impractical. They state that a daily water supply of at least 1.75 TMC is necessary to support the standing Samba crop. This year, the target for Samba cultivation was approximately 14 lakh acres, with significant acreage in districts like Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, and Tiruchy, along with around 3 lakh acres dedicated to Thaladi cultivation in the delta region.
The delay in land preparation and transplantation caused by prolonged rains and Cyclone Michaung’s impact has led to extensive crop damage. Consequently, the planting schedule was significantly postponed, resulting in a shift in the water requirement cycle. Farmers stress that the current critical stage of the Samba crop, with harvesting expected to extend till March instead of the usual January timeframe, necessitates an extension of water supply until the end of February. They urge the state government and Water Resources Department to consider this extension crucial to protect crops and prevent substantial losses in the delta region.
