The customary release of water from the Mettur Dam on June 12 for paddy cultivation in Tamil Nadu may not happen this year due to low reservoir storage. Officials are closely monitoring inflows before making a final decision. Farmers in the Cauvery Delta, who rely on this release for the Kuruvai season, face uncertainty with less than a week left before the scheduled opening.
The possibility of opening the dam on time depends on substantial rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas and an increase in inflows. Currently, the water level in the Mettur Dam is at 79.86 feet, with storage below 50% of its full capacity at 41.81 thousand million cubic feet (TMC). Officials suggest that the existing storage level may not be enough for the scheduled release on June 12 without significant weather improvements.
The annual release from the Mettur Dam is vital for agriculture in Tamil Nadu, irrigating nearly 16 lakh acres of farmland across 12 districts. This release is crucial for farmers cultivating Kuruvai, Samba, and Thaladi crops. Any delay in opening the dam can disrupt sowing schedules, especially for the short-duration Kuruvai crop, which heavily relies on timely water availability during cultivation’s early stages.
The timing of water release from the Mettur Dam has varied in recent years based on reservoir levels and inflows. While authorities released water ahead of schedule in May 2022 due to favorable storage conditions, poor storage in other years led to delays until July. With the southwest monsoon progressing and rainfall expected to increase in southern India, Delta farmers are hopeful for a rise in reservoir inflows. The government will decide on the release after assessing storage levels, rainfall patterns, and inflow trends in the coming days.
