Weak monsoon pushes down Mullaperiyar water level; Theni’s first paddy crop faces uncertainty

Idukki: Weak progress of southwest monsoon in Kerala has led to a sharp fall in water level at Mullaperiyar dam, triggering concern in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district where thousands of acres of paddy cultivation depend on water from the reservoir.With storage level remaining well below the mark required for irrigation release, first crop season in Theni is staring at uncertainty and farmers are anxiously waiting for monsoon to revive.Water level in the dam stood at 111.8 feet on Saturday, a steep fall from 136.5 feet recorded during the corresponding period last year. Tamil Nadu had been drawing water for the first paddy crop in Theni from June 1 for the past five years.

This year, however, poor inflow into the reservoir has made such an early release impossible.Under existing norms, irrigation water can be supplied to Tamil Nadu only if water level in Mullaperiyar reservoir reaches 118 feet.For the first crop season, Tamil Nadu has to be supplied 200 cusecs of water continuously for 120 days. Unless there is enough storage to ensure uninterrupted supply for the entire cultivation period, farmers cannot begin paddy farming with confidence.

If water level remains between 104 feet and 116 feet, only 50 to 100 cusecs of water can be taken, and that too solely for drinking water requirements, not for agricultural purposes.Impact of water shortage is likely to be felt most in Theni district, where 14,707 acres of paddy fields depend directly on the reservoir for irrigation. Farmers in the region usually begin the first crop season by mid-June or in the first week of July, taking advantage of the assured release of water from the dam.Data from previous years indicate that the present situation is unusual but not unprecedented. In the past 16 years, Theni farmers were unable to start the first crop on time only in 2017, 2020 and 2026, all due to insufficient water in Mullaperiyar. In 2017, the first crop could be started only in Sept, while in 2020 cultivation was delayed until Aug. Agricultural officials and farmers fear a repeat of such delays if monsoon does not strengthen in the coming days.Stress on water resources is also visible in Vaigai dam, another key reservoir in Tamil Nadu. Vaigai dam, which has a maximum storage capacity of 71 feet, had a water level of only 32.58 feet on Saturday, compared to 60.1 feet during the same period last year. Low storage has added to concerns over water availability for both irrigation and drinking purposes in the region. Farmers in Theni say if water is released and then interrupted midway due to falling storage, it could lead to crop loss and severe financial distress for cultivators.

As a result, they are waiting for clarity on reservoir levels before preparing fields for the first crop.