Cauvery Delta Groundwater Depletion Threatens Kuruvai Rice Crop in Tamil Nadu

Groundwater levels across Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta have dropped sharply, with surveys showing declines of up to 0.73 m in districts such as Tiruchirappalli and Nagapattinam. No water was released from the Mettur reservoir on June 12, and frequent power cuts limit the eight hours of uninterrupted electricity needed to run the 21 lakh borewells used for irrigation – only about 14 lakh of which remain functional in the delta districts. Cauvery Farmers Protection Association president Cauvery V Dhanapalan warned that without timely monsoon rains and full river flows, the delta could turn into a desert and even samba cultivation would be doubtful.

The falling water table jeopardises the Kuruvai rice season, which relies on timely irrigation. Experts stress the need for sustainable practices such as micro‑irrigation, crop diversification and improved water‑release planning to safeguard agricultural productivity in the region.