Tamil Nadu: The Mettur Dam, Tamil Nadu’s primary water source, has completed 91 years of construction. Now, in its 92nd year, discussions have intensified among farmers regarding the release of water for delta irrigation on June 12th. As every year, the question is whether water will be released from the dam on the scheduled date. However, given the current circumstances, farmers are confident that the release will be on schedule.
Farmers believe that the dam’s water availability remains satisfactory, and the Meteorological Department’s forecast suggests an early onset of the southwest monsoon. Therefore, it is hoped that water can be released for delta irrigation on June 12th this year.
According to current data, the water level in the Mettur Dam is recorded at 79.35 feet, while the water storage is reported to be 41.31 TMC. Normally, water is released when the dam’s water level reaches 90 feet, but this is sometimes adjusted depending on the circumstances. According to experts, the inflow into the dam is expected to increase in the coming days, which could further improve the situation.
This water supply is considered crucial for farmers in the delta region, as three major crops, Kuruvai, Samba, and Thaladhi, are cultivated on approximately 16.06 lakh acres of land in these districts. These crops require approximately 330 TMC of water over a period of approximately 230 days, which is met solely by the Mettur Dam.
Reflecting history, in the last 91 years, water has been released from the Mettur Dam on schedule on June 12th only 20 times. Furthermore, in many years, water releases were not possible on the scheduled date due to low water levels or delayed monsoons. For approximately 60 years, the release dates have changed due to various circumstances.
This time, farmers have taken the Meteorological Department’s forecast as a positive sign. With the southwest monsoon expected to arrive on time, farmers have begun preparing their fields. In many areas, farmers are plowing and carrying out other preparatory work, assuming that water will be released from the Mettur Dam on June 12th.
Local agricultural organizations say that if the monsoon is normal and water flow into the dam increases, irrigation systems can function smoothly this year. This is expected to have a positive impact on agricultural production in the delta region.
All eyes are currently on the upcoming Meteorological Department report and the water level in the dam, as this will determine whether water will be released from the Mettur Dam on June 12th this year.
