Mettur water reaches Mukkombu
Water from the Mettur Dam has reached the Mukkombu regulator, signaling the start of the irrigation season for the samba paddy crop. However, farmers remain concerned about the limited duration of the water release and ongoing disputes regarding water sharing with Karnataka.
Why it matters
The management of Cauvery river water is a critical issue for regional food security and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Water released in the Cauvery from Stanley Reservoir in Mettur reached Upper Anicut (Mukkombu) on the outskirts of Tiruchi on Friday and flowed past the city towards Kallanai.
After Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay opened the shutters of the dam on September 1, distribution of water for irrigation in the Cauvery, Vennar, Kollidam and the Grand Anicut Canal from Kallanai for the samba season would begin on September 6. Due to poor storage, water was not released from Mettur Dam for the short-term kuruvai crop on the scheduled date of June 12 this year.
As the water flowed past the Mukkombu regulator, farmers and the public showered flower petals on the river in a gesture of welcome.
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