Farmers worried over depleted storage in Amaravathy and Thirumoorthy dams

Low storage in Amaravathi Dam has caused unease among farmers as the standing crops have started withering due to shortage in accrual from the Southwest monsoon.

On Thursday, the water level in Amaravathy Dam stood was 49.18 feet against a maximum of 90 feet with storage of 1,134 mcft, which is more than three times lesser than the extent of storage of 3,872 mcft at the same time last year.

Against this backdrop, the Water Resources Department has released water for special wetting for a 15-day duration to salvage drying crops in 32,770 acres in the ayacuts of old and new canals.

Likewise, water level in Thirumoorthy Dam on Thursday was 35.56 feet against a maximum of 60 feet, compared to 46.59 feet last year. The storage was 818 mcft against the maximum of 1,744 mcft. On the same day last year, the storage was 1,199 mcft.

Crop insurance

The Tiruppur district administration on Friday instructed farmers to insure their horticultural crops, under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Citing the below-normal rainfall during the Southwest monsoon season due to the impact of El Niño phenomenon, the district administration called upon farmers to protect their kuruvai and rainfed crops.

Banana, Tapioca, Onion, Turmeric, and Tomato have been notified under the Crop Insurance Scheme for the 2026 Kuruvai season.

The farmers have been told to insure their onion and tomato crops before August 31; and banana, tapioca and turmeric crops before September 15.