Triple blow for Cauvery delta farmers as groundwater declines, salinity rises and Mettur water remains elusive
Thanjavur, July 25
Kuruvai paddy cultivation in parts of the Cauvery delta has come under severe stress as farmers grapple with a combination of rapidly declining groundwater levels, rising salinity and the continued non-release of water from the Mettur dam.
The situation has been further aggravated by an intense heatwave, which has accelerated evaporation, and a reduction in the duration of free electricity supply for agricultural pumps.
Farmers in Papanasam, Tiruvaiyaru and adjoining areas of Thanjavur district say they are struggling to protect their standing kuruvai crop after relying almost entirely on groundwater for irrigation this season.
Their concerns intensified after Tangedco informed them on Wednesday that the daily free power supply for agricultural pump sets would be reduced from 18 hours to 14 hours, limiting their ability to draw groundwater for irrigation.
According to Agriculture Department officials, kuruvai cultivation has been taken up on nearly one lakh acres across Thanjavur district using groundwater.
Under normal conditions, farmers begin cultivation with groundwater and later depend on Cauvery water released from the Mettur dam to sustain the crop.
This year, however, the annual release of water, usually made on June 12, did not take place because of inadequate storage in the reservoir, forcing farmers to depend exclusively on groundwater.
Farmers say the prolonged absence of river flow has significantly lowered the water table.
"The scorching heat is causing rapid evaporation from the fields, while there has been no water flow in the Cauvery for more than six months. Groundwater levels are falling every day," said R. Arulsamy, a farmer from Ganapathy Agraharam in Papanasam.
The crisis is particularly acute in Papanasam block, where kuruvai has been cultivated on about 8,400 acres. Harvesting has been completed on around 2,000 acres, but farmers cultivating the remaining fields fear mounting irrigation challenges.
Another concern is the sharp increase in groundwater salinity in villages including Vellam Perambur, Then Perambur, Allur Azhisikudi and Panaveli.
Farmers said that in previous years, the timely release of water from Mettur recharged groundwater reserves through canals and helped reduce salinity.
With no such recharge this season, saline groundwater is affecting irrigation and threatening crop health.
Many farmers have appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to release at least a limited quantity of water from the Mettur dam before the Adi Perukku festival on August 3 to provide temporary relief.
However, agriculture experts believe such a move is unlikely given the present storage position.
P. Kalaivanan of the Senior Agro Technologist Forum said the Mettur reservoir currently holds only about 35 tmc ft of water against its full capacity of 93.47 tmc ft.
While there had been hopes of opening the dam in August, he said the prevailing storage levels suggest that water may not be released until September.
He added that farmers could still salvage the coming season by opting for direct sowing of medium-duration samba paddy in September, provided the northeast monsoon brings adequate rainfall.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from Thanjavur, I can tell you this is a cycle we see every few years. But this time it's worse—groundwater depletion + salinity + no Mettur water = a perfect storm. Farmers have taken kuruvai on nearly one lakh acres using only groundwater, which is unsustainable. The reduction in free power supply from 18 to 14 hours is also a hard blow. We need long-term solutions like rainwater harvesting in the delta and better inter-state water sharing with Karnataka, not just temporary fixes.
I feel for the farmers, but honestly, this is a predictable crisis. Every year we rely on the same pattern—Mettur release on June 12—and when it doesn't happen, everyone is shocked. We need crop diversification in the delta. Kuruvai is water-intensive; why not promote millets or pulses that need less water? Also, the state government should have started micro-irrigation subsidies years ago. Let's not just blame the weather; our planning needs a serious re-think. 🤔
The reduction in free electricity from 18 to 14 hours is a major issue. Farmers are already struggling with falling water tables and salinity; now they have less time to pump what little water is left. Tangedco should have consulted agriculture experts before cutting supply in the middle of the season. Also, the Adi Perukku festival request is symbolic—water release for religious reasons shouldn't be the primary driver of policy. We need science-based water management. 🚜
As someone from the US who has visited Tamil Nadu and seen the Cauvery delta, this is deeply concerning. The combination of climate change (intense heatwave, evaporation) and mismanagement is devastating. I notice the article mentions groundwater salinity in villages like Vellam Perambur—this is a sign of over-extraction and sea water intrusion. India needs to invest in aquifer recharge and desalination tech
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