Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Nagapattinam Farmers Seek Delayed Mettur Release Amid Irrigation Fears
Farmers in Nagapattinam want the government to release Mettur dam water later than planned.
The government has proposed starting the release on September 1.
Farmers say the water would be supplied for only 45 days, which is not enough for samba paddy crops.
Nagapattinam is at the end of the water system, so the water may take about 10 days to arrive.
This would make the useful supply period even shorter.
Farmers are worried that the northeast monsoon may come late or fail.
They say crops could then be left without water for about 15 days.
Some farmers are choosing rice varieties that grow faster to lower the risk of losing their crops.
Nagapattinam farmers urged Tamil Nadu to postpone the proposed September 1 Mettur water release by at least 10 days.
They said the planned 45-day supply would be inadequate for samba paddy cultivation, which needs longer assured irrigation.
Because Nagapattinam is a tail-end district, water may take about 10 days to reach its irrigation channels.
Farmers fear a 15-day irrigation gap before the northeast monsoon if the monsoon is delayed or fails.
Some cultivators are switching to medium- or short-duration paddy varieties to reduce potential crop losses.
- Who
- Nagapattinam farmers, farmer associations and CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam are seeking a change to the proposed water-release schedule.
- What
- They want the proposed September 1 release from Mettur Dam postponed by at least 10 days and say 45 days of water would not be enough for samba cultivation.
- When
- The proposed release is scheduled for September 1; farmers suggested releasing water in the second week of September.
- Where
- Nagapattinam and other Cauvery delta districts in Tamil Nadu, including neighbouring Tiruvarur.
- Why
- Nagapattinam is a tail-end district where water takes about 10 days to arrive, while farmers depend heavily on Cauvery water and face uncertainty over the northeast monsoon.
Farmers’ Request
Proposed Release Schedule
Timing of release
Farmers’ Request
Farmers want the release postponed by at least 10 days, preferably to the second week of September, so limited water is available during a more critical stage of samba cultivation.
Proposed Release Schedule
The proposed schedule would begin releasing water from Mettur Dam on September 1.
Adequacy of supply
Farmers’ Request
Farmers and farmer leaders say 45 days of water is insufficient, especially because Nagapattinam may lose about 10 days while water travels to its channels.
Proposed Release Schedule
The reported plan provides a 45-day Cauvery water supply, though the articles do not give the government’s explanation for that duration.
Risk from the monsoon
Farmers’ Request
Farmers fear crops could face at least a 15-day irrigation gap if the northeast monsoon is delayed or fails after the Mettur supply ends.
Proposed Release Schedule
The proposed limited release appears to rely on the northeast monsoon to support cultivation after the 45-day supply, but the articles describe the monsoon’s arrival as uncertain.
- Proposed release date
- September 1
- Requested delay
- At least 10 days
- Planned water duration
- 45 days
- Estimated travel time
- About 10 days for water to reach Nagapattinam irrigation channels
- Crop discussed
- Samba paddy
- Crop irrigation demand
- CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam said samba crops require at least 120 days of assured irrigation.
- Alternative varieties
- Farmers are considering medium-duration varieties with about 135-day crop cycles and shorter-duration varieties.