Farmers across the Cauvery Delta region have urged the Tamil Nadu government to declare delta districts drought-affected and convene an emergency stakeholder meeting, as the customary June 12 release of water from Mettur Dam appears increasingly unlikely due to critically low storage levels. The demand comes at a pivotal moment for kuruvai paddy cultivation, which depends almost entirely on timely irrigation from the reservoir.

Mettur Reservoir Levels Well Below Threshold

The Mettur reservoir, the lifeline of delta irrigation, stood at 79.69 feet with a storage of 41.648 TMC as of Wednesday — well below the level generally considered adequate to open the dam. Traditionally, the dam is opened every year on June 12 and remains operational until January 28, but releases are made only when storage is deemed sufficient. This year, that threshold has not been met, triggering widespread anxiety among farmers dependent on river irrigation.

Kuruvai Cultivation Hit by Water and Power Shortages

Agriculture officials estimate that kuruvai cultivation could still extend across roughly 3.5 lakh acres this season. However, farmer organisations contend the actual figure may be significantly lower, citing frequent and unscheduled power cuts that have disrupted borewell operations — the fallback irrigation source for those who proceeded with sowing despite the uncertainty.

While some farmers had anticipated the shortage and opted out of cultivation entirely this season, others went ahead relying on borewell irrigation. Farmer representatives warn that erratic electricity supply is critically undermining pump operations during the early, most vulnerable stages of crop growth, resulting in crop stress and withering across several parts of the delta.

What Farmers Are Demanding

Farmer leaders have called on the state government to convene a tripartite consultation involving government officials, agricultural experts, and farmer representatives to assess the situation and draw up contingency measures. They noted that such consultations were held during previous administrations to guide farmers on alternative crop choices and water management strategies in years of inadequate storage.

They have also urged the Tamil Nadu government to seek Central assistance by formally declaring the Cauvery Delta region drought-affected, arguing that immediate intervention is necessary to prevent large-scale crop losses and protect rural livelihoods.

Scale of the Crisis in Context

In recent years, timely Mettur releases enabled kuruvai cultivation across more than six lakh acres. The potential drop to 3.5 lakh acres — or lower, according to farmer bodies — represents a dramatic contraction that would ripple beyond cultivators to agricultural labourers whose seasonal income depends on the kuruvai harvest. Lower acreage will directly translate into reduced paddy production, compounding food security and rural employment concerns in one of Tamil Nadu's most agriculturally significant regions.

With the June 12 deadline now a day away and no indication of a dam opening, the coming days will be critical in determining whether emergency relief measures are set in motion.