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Mettur Water Level Low: "Is Samba Cultivation Possible? What is Govt's Advice?" Anbumani Questions!
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News18•22-09-2026, 16:31
Mettur Water Level Low: "Is Samba Cultivation Possible? What is Govt's Advice?" Anbumani Questions!
- •Mettur dam's water storage has fallen to 46 TMC, less than half its capacity, due to reduced Cauvery water from Karnataka.
- •Samba cultivation requires 140-160 TMC of water, but current storage is insufficient, raising farmer concerns.
- •Karnataka has not adhered to Cauvery Water Management Authority orders, leading to decreased inflow into Mettur dam.
- •1.8 million acres in Cauvery delta districts are cultivated with Samba and Thaladi, but 40% may not be cultivated due to water scarcity.
- •Anbumani demands Rs. 25,000 per acre compensation, uninterrupted three-phase electricity, and a Rs. 10,000 special Samba package for farmers.
Key Questions Answered
The Mettur dam's water level has dropped to 84 feet and storage has fallen to 46 TMC, which is less than half of its total capacity of 93.47 TMC (49.21%) due to reduced water release from Karnataka.
To successfully complete Samba cultivation, 140 to 160 TMC of water is required from September to February, with 100 to 110 TMC needing to be released from the Mettur dam.
Farmers are demanding a compensation of Rs. 25,000 per acre for lands where cultivation is impossible, alongside a special Samba package assistance of Rs. 10,000 per acre from the Tamil Nadu government.
