Chennai, February 8: Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), has urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately release water from the Mettur Dam to protect standing rice crops in the Cauvery Delta districts. He warned that failure to act swiftly could result in significant losses for thousands of farmers.
During a visit to Vannarapettai on the Thanjavur-Tiruvaiyaru bypass road, after attending a party official’s wedding in Tiruvaiyaru, Palaniswami inspected fields where rice crops are still growing.
He noted that many areas of the fields are already showing signs of crop damage due to inadequate irrigation. Speaking to reporters, he stated that farmers urgently require water for at least another 20 days to allow their crops to mature fully.
He cautioned that without timely irrigation, the standing crops could wither, leading to substantial financial losses for farmers who have already invested heavily in seeds, fertilizers, labor, and other inputs.
“Many areas have not yet reached the harvesting stage. If water is not provided immediately, all the farmers’ hard work and money will go to waste. The government must act quickly to prevent distress in agricultural regions,” he said.
Palaniswami appealed to the state government to release water from the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur for irrigation purposes for a minimum of 20 days. He emphasized that saving the Samba rice crop is crucial for both farmers’ livelihoods and the state’s food security.
According to weather reports, the release of water for irrigation from the Mettur Dam was halted on January 28, and the reservoir is scheduled to be opened on June 12, 2025, at the start of the irrigation season. Currently, only about 2,000 cusecs of water is being released for drinking water needs.
Meanwhile, farmers in the delta region have begun protests demanding the reopening of the dam. Palaniswami reiterated the need for immediate government intervention to ensure the safety of farmers and to avert an agricultural crisis in the delta districts.
–
S.A.K./A.B.M.
