Mettur Dam’s Irrigation Release Uncertain for June 12 Due to Water Level Concerns.

The Mettur dam’s water storage has reached an alarming low of 41 tmcft, significantly below its capacity of 93.47 tmcft, raising concerns about the scheduled opening date of June 12. Given the current inflow of about 1,950 cusecs against an outflow of 1,000 cusecs, officials predict that the likelihood of timely operations is highly improbable. Furthermore, the Indian Meteorological Department has revised its forecast for the monsoon season, forecasting a delayed onset and reduced rainfall levels, which complicates the situation further.

The Karnataka portion of the Cauvery river basin also exhibits poor reservoir storage, with combined figures from the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini dams at just 16.09 tmcft, well below their total capacity of 68.97 tmcft. This decrease in available water resources could severely impact agricultural planning in Tamil Nadu, particularly for the upcoming kuruvai cultivation season. Historical data indicates that previous regime interventions typically allowed water release on schedule, with only sporadic changes due to climatic factors.

If the current trajectory continues, the coverage area for kuruvai cultivation may dwindle to approximately 2.5 lakh acres, significantly lower than the usual coverage of around 4.4 lakh acres. To mitigate potential agricultural losses, the government is contemplating an assistance package for farmers, particularly encouraging the cultivation of crops like pulses to adapt to the current hydrological limitations. Experts advise that timely sowing will be critical for ensuring crop viability, with warnings against delays that could expose crops to adverse weather conditions later in the monsoon season.