Chennai, 31 May (H.S.) :The likelihood of the Mettur Dam being opened on the customary June 12 date for the commencement of kuruvai cultivation in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta has diminished considerably due to low reservoir storage and concerns over a weak southwest monsoon.

Officials in the Water Resources Department indicated that the present water level in the Mettur reservoir is insufficient to support a full-scale irrigation release as traditionally scheduled. The situation has been compounded by the India Meteorological Department’s revised monsoon forecast, which predicts rainfall at only 90 per cent of the long-period average and a delayed onset of the southwest monsoon.

As of May 30, the Mettur Dam contained around 41 tmcft of water, less than half of its total storage capacity of 93.47 tmcft. The reservoir was receiving an inflow of nearly 1,950 cusecs, while about 1,000 cusecs was being released downstream.

The storage position in Karnataka’s key Cauvery basin reservoirs also remains weak. Data from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre showed that the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs together held only 16.09 tmcft against a combined capacity of 68.97 tmcft. The Harangi and Hemavathy reservoirs together stored 17.75 tmcft against their capacity of 45.6 tmcft.

Despite the current shortage, Tamil Nadu has already received around 330 tmcft of Cauvery water at Biligundulu during the 2025-26 water year, exceeding its annual allocation of 176.85 tmcft.

Agricultural experts estimate that the existing storage can support kuruvai cultivation in only about 2.5 lakh acres, compared to the normal coverage of around 4.4 lakh acres. Last year, kuruvai cultivation reached a record 6.09 lakh acres. Experts say at least 80 tmcft of storage is required to irrigate about 3 lakh acres effectively.

The State government is reportedly considering relief measures for farmers and encouraging the cultivation of pulses, particularly black gram, as an alternative crop in water-stressed areas. Agricultural scientists have advised farmers to complete pulse sowing by mid-June to avoid weather-related risks later in the season.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman