Opening of Mettur dam on scheduled date unlikely

Debate sought on idea of holiday for short-term kuruvai

The situation of poor storage in the Mettur dam and the declining groundwater table appears a repeat of what the State witnessed on several occasions during the corresponding period in the past. The Meteorological Department, in its initial forecast, has also indicated that this year’s southwest monsoon (June to September) may not bring in much rainfall.

Under such circumstances, the question that the farming community in the Cauvery delta ponders over is: will it not be advisable to give a holiday for the short-term kuruvai crop. About a year ago, K. Ramasamy, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), openly mooted this idea but there was a strong opposition to it, S. Ranganathan, general secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association, recalls.

Planted during June and July, the kuruvai crop covers ordinarily around 3.3 lakh acres. In the words of Mr Ranganathan, the period is ideal for raising paddy, as, among others, there will be plenty of sunshine. Yield will also be higher. But, as of now, not many farmers will be able to raise the crop except in the case of those who have to depend on irrigation pumpsets.

The chances appear bleak for the Mettur dam getting opened on the scheduled date of June 12. The present storage of Mettur is around 9.3 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft). The dam should, at least, have 50 tmcft more before the authorities can think of opening it for irrigation. Again, this is dependent on the release of the Cauvery water by Karnataka in the next few months.

It was only on five or six occasions since 1991 that the Mettur dam realised higher quantum of water during June and July than prescribed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal for the two months.

However, an official in the Agriculture Department says there is no need for feeling pessimistic as the State received huge quantities of the Cauvery water during July last, even though the previous year’s situation too was more or less the same. [In July 2013, the State realised 76.21 tmc ft as against 34 tmc ft prescribed in the final order of the Tribunal].

Two years ago when the situation was as bad as it is now, about one lakh acres could be covered, he points out.

As for Mr Ranganathan, the issue on the kuruvai holiday has to be debated among senior members of the farming community and the department can hold a meeting.

N. Ashokraja, Professor and Head, Department of Agronomy, TNAU, suggests to the farmers to go for crops that will fetch high value and, at the same time, consume less water. Wherever lift irrigation is possible, the farmers can try maize, millets, pulses, or cluster beans or vegetables, he adds.