Chennai, February 8: Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), has urgently appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to open the Mettur Dam to protect standing rice crops in the Cauvery Delta districts. He warned that if water is not released soon, thousands of farmers could face severe losses.
During a visit to Vannarapettai on the Thanjavur-Tiruvaiyaru bypass road, following attendance at a party official’s wedding in Tiruvaiyaru, Palaniswami inspected fields where rice crops are still growing. He noted signs of crop damage in several areas due to insufficient irrigation.
Speaking to reporters, he stated that farmers urgently require water for at least another 20 days to allow their crops to fully mature. He cautioned that without timely irrigation, the standing crops could wither, leading to significant 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 swiftly to alleviate the distress in agricultural areas,” he emphasized.
Palaniswami urged the state government to release water from the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur for irrigation purposes for at least 20 days. He stressed that saving the Samba rice crop is crucial for both the livelihoods of farmers and the state’s food security.
According to reports, water release for irrigation from the Mettur Dam was halted on January 28, and the reservoir is not scheduled to open until 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 that immediate government intervention is essential to ensure the safety of farmers and to prevent an agricultural crisis in the delta districts.
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S.A.K./A.B.M
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