Archive · 30 Aug 2026
CPI(M) Seeks Full Mettur Water Supply for Samba Crops
P Shanmugam of the CPI(M) asked Tamil Nadu to provide farmers with water for the full samba rice-growing season.
He said farmers need water for about 120 to 150 days.
A reported plan to provide water for only 45 days worried farming communities.
Shanmugam said the Mettur dam should be managed so farmers can finish growing their crops.
He also accused Karnataka of not regularly providing Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water.
He wanted Tamil Nadu to seek help from the Supreme Court and the Union government.
He opposed using fertile farmland for proposed airports at Parandur and Hosur.
He also criticised an order to monitor some student and youth protests at colleges.
P Shanmugam urged Tamil Nadu to release Mettur dam water for 120 to 150 days for samba paddy cultivation.
He said the reported 45-day release would not support a complete paddy crop cycle.
Shanmugam accused Karnataka of withholding Tamil Nadu’s monthly Cauvery water share and sought legal and Union government intervention.
He opposed acquiring fertile farmland for the Parandur and Hosur airport projects, citing available uncultivated or barren land.
The CPI(M) leader criticised monitoring of Left-affiliated student and youth protests on college campuses and sought action from the chief minister.
- Who
- P Shanmugam, Tamil Nadu state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and farmers in the Cauvery delta.
- What
- Shanmugam urged Tamil Nadu to ensure a 120- to 150-day Mettur water release for samba paddy cultivation and raised concerns about Cauvery water, airport land acquisition, and campus protest monitoring.
- When
- Saturday, according to the reports.
- Where
- The remarks were made in Chennai and concerned the Mettur dam, the Cauvery delta, Parandur, Hosur, and Karnataka’s Cauvery water releases.
- Why
- He said farmers need assured water to complete samba cultivation and argued that fertile farmland should be protected from infrastructure projects.
CPI(M) Demands
Government Positions Cited
Samba water supply
CPI(M) Demands
Shanmugam said Mettur water must be supplied for 120 to 150 days because 45 days would not support a successful paddy crop.
Government Positions Cited
The chief minister announced that water would be released from the Mettur reservoir, while the water resources minister was cited as saying the release would last 45 days.
Cauvery water management
CPI(M) Demands
Shanmugam accused Karnataka of releasing surplus water only when its reservoirs were full and urged Tamil Nadu to approach the Supreme Court and pressure the Union government.
Government Positions Cited
The reports do not provide detailed responses from Karnataka, the Union government, or the Supreme Court to these allegations and demands.
Agricultural land for airports
CPI(M) Demands
Shanmugam opposed acquiring fertile land for the Parandur and Hosur airport projects and urged the government to use barren or uncultivated land instead.
Government Positions Cited
Minister K A Sengottaiyan was cited as suggesting that agricultural land could be acquired; the report provides no further explanation of the government’s project rationale.
Campus protest monitoring
CPI(M) Demands
Shanmugam criticised the order to monitor Left-affiliated student and youth protests, held the Chief Secretary responsible, and sought action from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
Government Positions Cited
The reports describe the monitoring order but do not include a response from the Chief Secretary or the state government.
- Requested water release
- 120 to 150 days for samba paddy cultivation
- Reported release duration
- 45 days, according to the water resources minister’s statement cited by Shanmugam
- Water source
- Mettur dam
- Crop region
- Cauvery delta
- Cauvery allegation
- Shanmugam accused Karnataka of failing to release Tamil Nadu’s monthly water share
- Airport projects
- Proposed airports at Parandur and Hosur
- Alternative land cited
- More than 50 lakh acres of uncultivated or barren land, according to Shanmugam
- Campus order
- Authorities were directed to monitor protests by Left-affiliated student and youth organisations
