Tamil Nadu is experiencing a shortfall in Cauvery water receipts this year, leading to concerns about irrigation in the state’s delta districts. The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) is set to convene in New Delhi on Wednesday to address this issue. As of July 19, Tamil Nadu has received only 3.44 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water, leaving a deficit of nearly 21 tmc ft compared to the expected amount under the water-sharing agreement.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) recently met but postponed a decision, prompting worries about delayed releases affecting irrigation. Water experts in Chennai have highlighted the imbalance between inflows into Karnataka’s reservoirs and the water released downstream. Karnataka’s reservoirs have received around 30 tmc ft of inflows, while Tamil Nadu has received less than four tmc ft during the same period.
Concerns are also mounting over storage levels at the Mettur dam, crucial for Cauvery delta irrigation. The dam’s current water level is at 75.14 feet, with a storage of about 37.3 tmc ft compared to its total capacity of 93.47 tmc ft. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticized the Chief Minister for not securing Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water and urged immediate action to address the situation.
