Chennai, Aug 29 (IANS) Delta farmers have expressed concern over whether water in the Mettur reservoir will be sufficient to sustain the Tamil Nadu government’s proposed 45-day release for samba cultivation.
Thirteen Cauvery delta districts, including Thanjavur, known as Tamil Nadu’s rice bowl, depend on water from the Mettur dam for irrigation.
Traditionally, the reservoir is opened on June 12 every year to support kuruvai cultivation.
However, water can be released on schedule only if the dam level is not below 90 feet.
At the beginning of June this year, the water level stood at only 79 feet, preventing the authorities from releasing water on the customary date.
Consequently, farmers dependent on Cauvery water were unable to undertake kuruvai cultivation, while those with access to groundwater proceeded with planting.
The area under kuruvai cultivation declined sharply from 5.66 lakh acres last year to 3.78 lakh acres this year.
Farmers had pinned their hopes on the samba season.
The state government has announced that the Mettur dam will be opened on September 1, with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay scheduled to visit the reservoir and inaugurate the release.
Preparations are underway, and water is expected to be supplied for 45 days.
As of Friday evening, however, the dam level was 89.72 feet, with storage of 52.33 thousand million cubic feet.
Farmers fear that the reserve may not last for the announced period.
They said that between 15,000 and 20,000 cubic feet per second would have to be discharged daily for Cauvery water to reach the tail-end irrigation areas.
The present storage, they contend, is inadequate to maintain such a release.
The concern has been compounded by insufficient rainfall during the Southwest monsoon and uncertainty over whether the Northeast monsoon, expected to begin towards the end of October, will bring adequate rain.
An estimated 268.47 TMC of water is required to irrigate 12.10 lakh acres in the delta districts between September 15 and January 28.
In view of this requirement, farmers have suggested postponing the dam opening from September 1 to September 15.
They believe the delay could conserve storage and help bridge the period until Northeast monsoon inflows begin.
The state government has not yet indicated whether it will reconsider the announced opening date.
–IANS
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