TN farmers see improved irrigation as Cauvery delta tanks reach peak levels

Chennai: Water storage across irrigation tanks in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta has improved significantly following copious rainfall during the northeast monsoon and sustained inflows in the Cauvery river system, providing major relief to farmers ahead of the peak agricultural season.

Of the 764 irrigation tanks in the delta region, 386 have reached full capacity, a sharp increase from just 42 tanks recorded three months ago. Another 329 tanks have filled beyond 75% of their capacity, reflecting a strong recovery in water availability across the agrarian belt.

The Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Pudukkottai together account for 737 system tanks fed by rivers and canals, along with 27 non-system tanks dependent entirely on rainfall. Thanjavur has the highest number of tanks at 561, followed by Pudukkottai with 170, Tiruvarur with 28, Nagapattinam with three and Mayiladuthurai with two.

Most of these tanks are located in tail-end areas and are vital for paddy cultivation, especially during the samba season. While tanks usually receive peak inflows during September and October, storage levels rose earlier this year, with many tanks crossing the 50% mark by the end of August.

Officials attributed the early improvement to continuous water flow in key channels such as the Grand Anaicut and Vennaru, along with the timely release of Cauvery water from the Mettur dam on June 12. Since then, the Mettur reservoir has reached full storage levels seven times, supported by surplus inflows from Karnataka.

Adequate southwest monsoon rainfall in Thanjavur district and above-normal northeast monsoon rainfall between October 1 and December 11 further strengthened water storage across the delta.

Currently, 337 tanks hold water between 75% and 99% capacity, 31 tanks are between 50% and 75%, and only five tanks remain in the 25% to 50% range. The improved storage is expected to sustain standing samba crops, ensure water availability for livestock during summer, and help recharge groundwater levels, enhancing overall water security in the Cauvery delta region.

IANS