Mettur water crisis casts shadow over Kuruvai cultivation in TN's Cauvery delta

Tiruchi, May 18 A sharp decline in storage levels at the Mettur reservoir has raised concerns over the future of kuruvai cultivation in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta region, with farmers and agricultural experts warning that the customary release of water on June 12 now appears unlikely.

The water level at the Mettur dam on Sunday stood at 79 feet, considerably lower than the 108 feet recorded during the corresponding period last year. Reservoir storage has also dropped significantly to 41.035 TMC, compared to 76.031 TMC during the same period in 2025, creating uncertainty over irrigation prospects in the delta districts.

The customary release of water from Mettur for kuruvai cultivation has traditionally taken place when reservoir levels exceed 100 feet. With current storage far below that mark, concerns are growing that the scheduled opening may not be possible this year.

The development has intensified worries among farmers in the Cauvery delta, particularly after a series of successful agricultural seasons in recent years.

Between 2020 and 2025, Mettur releases largely took place on time, except in one season, leading to bumper harvests and helping kuruvai cultivation exceed targets in several years. Samba cultivation also recorded a strong performance during this period.

Authorities have now substantially revised cultivation expectations for the current season. The kuruvai cultivation target has been reduced to 3.44 lakh acres from the 6.31 lakh acres achieved in 2025. District-wise targets have been fixed at 1.57 lakh acres in Thanjavur, 97,000 acres in Tiruvarur, 87,000 acres in Mayiladuthurai and 59,000 acres in Nagapattinam.

Agricultural activity across the delta has progressed slowly, with only about 35 per cent of the targeted area reportedly covered so far.

Farmers who have already begun cultivation are depending largely on groundwater resources and borewells while hoping for favourable southwest monsoon conditions.

Agricultural experts estimate that the reservoir’s storage could decline further by early June due to allocations for drinking water requirements, increasing pressure on irrigation planning.

There are also growing calls for ensuring the release of Tamil Nadu’s allocated share of Cauvery water in accordance with established water-sharing arrangements.

With uncertainty continuing over water availability, there are concerns that farmers may increasingly shift their focus towards a single samba crop strategy in an effort to reduce risks and minimise potential losses during the current agricultural season.

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