Trichy, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : Farmers in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, are calling on the state government to release water from all 17 irrigation canals connected to the Cauvery River. They warn that without this water, their samba rice nurseries could dry up following the recent water flow from Mettur to Karikal.
The farmers had planted their nurseries with the expectation of a steady water supply through the canals. However, many fields have yet to receive water, leaving farmers uncertain about planting their crops this season.
Water release from Mettur began on September 1, and it reached Karikal on Sunday. Farmers are also requesting that if the current water flow cannot be maintained, an alternative plan should be put in place.
As of Tuesday evening, the water level in the Mettur reservoir was reported at 84.16 feet, with a total of 46.228 thousand million cubic feet of water stored. According to the Water Resources Department, the inflow was 3,867 cubic feet per second, while 12,000 cubic feet per second was being released. This discrepancy has raised concerns about how long the irrigation supply can be sustained.
Farmers estimate that the current flow may last only about 25 days. They are urging the government to clarify how it plans to protect crops if the water supply from the canals diminishes.
Last year, samba rice was cultivated on 54,929 hectares in Trichy district. Farmers noted that the agriculture department has yet to set clear cultivation targets for the current season, complicating their planting plans.
Some farmers reported difficulties in irrigating their nurseries due to power outages, preventing them from using electric pumps. They are requesting fuel subsidies to enable the use of diesel pump sets to save their nurseries.
Farmers from Thirupparaithurai stated that even three weeks after water was released from the Cauvery, it has not yet reached the Puthu Ayyan canal, which irrigates their lands. They have asked the state administration to outline the steps it will take to prevent crop loss throughout the district.
Meanwhile, P.R. Pandian, president of the Tamil Nadu All Farmers Union Coordination Committee, has urged the government to contact the Cauvery Water Management Authority to secure the state’s share of water, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
Water Resources Department officials have confirmed that some canals, including Uyyakondan, have received water, which is expected to reach the fields by Wednesday. Water was released into the canals a day after the release from Kallanai for delta farming on September 7. Officials mentioned that due to the staggered distribution of water, it may take another one or two days for it to reach the fields.
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