CPM demands 120-150 days of Mettur dam water for samba paddy farmers in Cauvery delta
Synopsis
CPI(M) Tamil Nadu's P Shanmugam has put the state government on notice: a 45-day water release from Mettur dam is agriculturally indefensible for samba paddy, which needs 120 to 150 days. With Karnataka accused of flouting Supreme Court orders on Cauvery sharing, and fertile farmland under threat from airport projects, the Cauvery delta's farming community faces pressure from multiple directions at once.
Key Takeaways
CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state secretary P Shanmugam on 29 August demanded 120 to 150 days of water release from Mettur dam for samba paddy cultivation.
The water resources minister's statement of only a 45-day release has caused confusion and anxiety among Cauvery delta farmers.
The Mettur dam water level is expected to reach 90 feet , which Shanmugam says is sufficient to sustain the full samba season.
Shanmugam accused Karnataka of releasing Cauvery water only when reservoirs overflow, in violation of the Supreme Court verdict on inter-state water sharing.
He opposed farmland acquisition for the Parandur airport and Hosur airport projects, citing Tamil Nadu's 50 lakh acres of uncultivated land as an alternative.
CPI(M) has written to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay demanding action against a government order monitoring Left-affiliated campus protests.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Tamil Nadu state secretary P Shanmugam on Saturday, 29 August urged the Tamil Nadu government to ensure water from the Mettur dam is released for a minimum of 120 to 150 days to allow farmers in the Cauvery delta to complete the samba paddy cultivation season. The demand comes amid growing anxiety in the farming community over conflicting government signals on the duration of water release.
The Confusion Over Water Release Duration
Addressing reporters in Chennai, Shanmugam acknowledged that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's announcement of a water release from the Mettur reservoir had brought initial relief to delta farmers. However, a subsequent statement by the water resources minister — indicating the release would last only 45 days — has generated considerable confusion and concern among the farming community.
Shanmugam was categorical: no paddy crop can be successfully cultivated with water available for a mere 45 days. Samba paddy, he stressed, requires an assured and uninterrupted water supply for between 120 and 150 days. With the Mettur dam water level expected to reach 90 feet, he argued the government has both the means and the obligation to sustain the full samba season.
Karnataka's Cauvery Water Releases Under Fire
Shanmugam also trained his criticism on the Karnataka government, alleging it has consistently failed to release Tamil Nadu's rightful monthly share of Cauvery water as mandated by the Supreme Court's verdict. Karnataka, he alleged, releases surplus water only when its own reservoirs overflow — not in accordance with the court-ordered schedule.
He called on the Tamil Nadu government to approach the Supreme Court directly and simultaneously press the Union government to enforce Tamil Nadu's legitimate share of Cauvery flows. This is a long-running inter-state dispute that has repeatedly strained relations between the two states and periodically threatened agricultural output in the Cauvery delta.
Fertile Farmland Must Not Be Acquired for Airports
On the contentious Parandur airport project and the proposed airport at Hosur, Shanmugam said fertile agricultural land capable of supporting three crops annually must not be acquired for infrastructure development. He pointed out that Tamil Nadu has more than 50 lakh acres of uncultivated or barren land that could instead be identified for such projects.
He criticised a statement by Minister K A Sengottaiyan suggesting that agricultural land could be acquired for development, calling the remark inappropriate and a source of serious discontent among farmers across the state.
Order Monitoring Left-Affiliated Campus Protests Draws Sharp Rebuke
Shanmugam also flagged a government order directing authorities to monitor protests by Left-affiliated student and youth organisations on college campuses. He held the Chief Secretary solely responsible for issuing the directive and said he had written to Chief Minister Vijay demanding appropriate action. The CPI(M) said it would wait and watch how the government responds before deciding its next course of action.
Point of View
The Cauvery inter-state dispute has followed the same pattern for decades: Karnataka releases water on its own terms, Tamil Nadu protests, the Supreme Court is invoked, and delta farmers absorb the uncertainty. The airport land acquisition controversy adds a second front, with fertile multi-crop land being eyed for infrastructure while barren alternatives reportedly exist. If the government does not resolve these contradictions quickly, the samba season — and the political goodwill of a farming constituency — could both be lost.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is CPI(M) demanding 120 to 150 days of water release from Mettur dam?
Samba paddy cultivation requires an assured water supply for 120 to 150 days to complete its growth cycle successfully. CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state secretary P Shanmugam has warned that the government's reported plan to release water for only 45 days is agriculturally insufficient and will prevent farmers in the Cauvery delta from completing the samba season.
What did the Tamil Nadu government announce about Mettur dam water release?
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced that water would be released from the Mettur reservoir, providing initial relief to delta farmers. However, the water resources minister subsequently indicated the release would continue for only 45 days, creating confusion about whether the full samba cultivation season can be completed.
Why is Karnataka being criticised over Cauvery water sharing?
CPI(M)'s Shanmugam alleged that Karnataka releases Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water only when its own reservoirs are full, rather than following the monthly schedule mandated by the Supreme Court's verdict on inter-state water sharing. He has urged the Tamil Nadu government to approach the Supreme Court and press the Union government to enforce compliance.
What is the CPI(M)'s position on the Parandur airport project?
CPI(M) opposes acquiring fertile agricultural land — capable of supporting three crops annually — for the Parandur and Hosur airport projects. Shanmugam argued that Tamil Nadu has over 50 lakh acres of uncultivated or barren land that should be used for infrastructure development instead, to protect farmland and farmer livelihoods.
What is the controversy over monitoring Left-affiliated campus protests?
A government order was issued directing authorities to monitor protests by Left-affiliated student and youth organisations on college campuses. Shanmugam held the Chief Secretary responsible for the order and said CPI(M) has written to Chief Minister Vijay demanding appropriate action, with the party watching for the government's response.
