Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Mettur Dam Storage Raises Doubts Over 45-Day Samba Release
Tamil Nadu farmers need water from the Mettur Dam to grow rice.
The dam was not full enough to release water on the usual June 12 date.
Because of this, many farmers could not grow the kuruvai crop.
Farmers now hope to grow the samba crop instead.
The government plans to release water on September 1 for 45 days.
Farmers worry that there is not enough water in the dam for that plan.
They say a strong flow is needed to carry water to farms far away.
They want the release delayed until September 15 to save water.
They are also unsure whether later monsoon rains will refill the reservoir.
Tamil Nadu plans to open the Mettur Dam on September 1 for a 45-day samba cultivation release.
The reservoir stood at 89.72 feet with 52.33 thousand million cubic feet in storage on Friday evening.
Farmers say maintaining a 15,000–20,000 cubic-feet-per-second discharge may be necessary to reach tail-end areas.
Kuruvai cultivation fell from 5.66 lakh acres last year to 3.78 lakh acres this year after the June release was missed.
Farmers want the opening delayed until September 15 because of limited storage and uncertain monsoon rainfall.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu’s state government and farmers in 13 Cauvery delta districts.
- What
- The government has proposed a 45-day Mettur Dam release for samba cultivation, while farmers question whether available storage is sufficient.
- When
- The release is planned for September 1; farmers have requested September 15. The Northeast monsoon is expected toward the end of October.
- Where
- The Mettur Dam and the Cauvery delta districts, including Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Farmers fear current storage cannot sustain the discharge needed to irrigate the delta before dependable monsoon inflows arrive.
Farmers’ Concerns
Government’s Announced Plan
Release timing
Farmers’ Concerns
Farmers want the opening postponed from September 1 to September 15 to conserve water and help bridge the period until Northeast monsoon inflows.
Government’s Announced Plan
The state government has announced a September 1 opening and is preparing to inaugurate the release.
Water sufficiency
Farmers’ Concerns
Farmers say the current storage may not support the 15,000–20,000 cubic-feet-per-second discharge needed to reach tail-end areas for 45 days.
Government’s Announced Plan
The government’s announced plan provides for a 45-day supply, but it has not indicated whether the date will be reconsidered.
- Planned opening date
- September 1
- Proposed release duration
- 45 days
- Reservoir level
- 89.72 feet on Friday evening
- Reservoir storage
- 52.33 thousand million cubic feet
- Farmer-cited discharge
- 15,000–20,000 cubic feet per second
- Estimated irrigation requirement
- 268.47 TMC for 12.10 lakh acres between September 15 and January 28
- Kuruvai cultivation
- Declined from 5.66 lakh acres to 3.78 lakh acres
