---
title: "Water Deficit Shrinks Cauvery Delta Kuruvai Cultivation by 118,000 Acres"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/water-deficit-shrinks-cauvery-delta-kuruvai-cultivation-by-118-000-acres-s92rt
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-07-30T19:34:51.000Z
modified: 2026-07-30T21:09:35.545Z
language: en-IN
---

# Water Deficit Shrinks Cauvery Delta Kuruvai Cultivation by 118,000 Acres

Tamil Nadu faces a severe agricultural shortfall as paddy coverage drops to 3.87 lakh acres amid dwindling Mettur dam reserves. A 34 tmc ft deficit in water realization from Karnataka threatens both current yields and the upcoming Samba season.

## Key takeaways

- Kuruvai paddy coverage fell from 5.05 lakh acres last year to 3.87 lakh acres as of July 27.
- Tamil Nadu faces a 34 tmc ft water shortfall since June 1, with Mettur dam at only 38% capacity.
- Cuddalore district bucked the trend by doubling cultivation due to groundwater and Veeranam tank levels.
- Agricultural experts warn that the 12-lakh-acre Samba season target is at risk without higher inflows.

## Regional Breakdown of Paddy Coverage Declines

Data recorded through July 27 reveals a significant contraction in paddy cultivation across the Cauvery delta. Total coverage for the Kuruvai season currently stands at 3.87 lakh acres, a sharp decrease from the 5.05 lakh acres reported during the same period last year. Despite the overall downturn, Thanjavur maintains the highest cultivation area with 1.29 lakh acres, followed by Mayiladuthurai at 97,000 acres and Tiruvarur at 88,700 acres.

## The Cuddalore Ambiguity and Groundwater Reliance

Cuddalore district presents a unique deviation from the regional trend, nearly doubling its cultivation area compared to previous figures. K.V. Elankeeran, president of the Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Association, attributes this anomaly to expectations surrounding the Veeranam tank. Farmers anticipated that authorities would maintain peak water levels to ensure Chennai’s drinking water supply. This, combined with consistent groundwater availability and free electricity, incentivized local growers to expand their footprint despite the broader regional crisis.

## Hydrological Constraints and Seasonal Outlook

The Mettur dam currently holds 35.97 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft), representing approximately 38% of its total 93.47 tmc ft capacity. With the water level measured at 73.7 feet against a full level of 120 feet, the agricultural sector faces significant pressure. Key data points regarding the water shortage include:
- Tamil Nadu received only 3.57 tmc ft of water since June 1, leaving a shortfall of roughly 34 tmc ft.
- July realization at Biligundulu reached a mere 0.66 tmc ft over a 28nday period.
- Inflow must increase significantly to meet the 12-lakh-acre target for the upcoming Samba-Thaladi season.

Without a substantial change in inflows, experts warn that the region may struggle to achieve even 50% of its traditional cultivation targets for the remainder of the year.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/water-deficit-shrinks-cauvery-delta-kuruvai-cultivation-by-118-000-acres-s92rt
Reported from: The Hindu — National