The impact of non-release of Cauvery water for the delta is visible. This year, the coverage of paddy in the region during the Kuruvai cultivation season  is down by over one lakh acres, compared to the previous year. 

As on July 27, the coverage was 3.87 lakh acres compared to 5.05 lakh acres on the corresponding day last year.  This year too, Thanjavur topped the list of districts with approximately 1.29 lakh acres. It was followed by Mayiladuthurai (97,000 acres) and Tiruvarur (88,700 acres). 

Of the seven districts in the Cauvery delta, Cuddalore is the outlier where the coverage is almost double the previous year’s figure. Asked to explain the increase, K.V. Elankeeran, president of the Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Association, who hails from Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district, said that  the agriculturists had an inkling, at the beginning of the season, that the authorities would ensure full water level at the Veeranam tank, which has become an important source of drinking water for Chennai.  In addition, free electricity and the availability of groundwater are the factors that have pushed the farmers to increase their coverage in the district. 

On Thursday morning, the water level at the Mettur dam stood at 73.7 ft (full level: 120 ft) with the storage being 35.97 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) against the capacity of 93.47 tmc ft.  The Cauvery water realisation by Tamil Nadu at Biligundulu was 0.66 tmc ft in the 28 days of July. Since June 1, the State received 3.57 tmc ft while the shortfall was around 34 tmc ft. Unless the inflow position improves dramatically, farmers in the delta may find it extremely difficult to cover even half of the normal coverage of 12 lakh acres during the Samba-Thaladi cultivation season.