Chennai, Dec 14 (LatestNewsX) — Heavy rains in the northeast monsoon and steady flow in the Cauvery river system have lifted water levels in many irrigation tanks across the delta, giving farmers a much-needed boost just before the critical growing period.
Out of 764 tanks spread through the delta, 386 now sit at full capacity, a dramatic jump from only 42 tanks three months earlier. Additionally, 329 tanks are more than 75 % full, signaling a broad recovery in water availability across Tamil Nadu’s farming communities.
The four delta districts—Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, and Pudukkottai—together host 737 tanks that receive water from rivers, canals, and rainfall, plus 27 rain‑dependent tanks outside the main system.
Thanjavur has by far the most tanks, with 561, followed by Pudukkottai’s 170. Tiruvarur contributes 28 tanks, while Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai add just three and two respectively.
Most of these tanks sit downstream, playing a crucial role in sustaining paddy fields during the samba season. Usually, they fill significantly in September and October, but this year many crossed the 50 % mark already by August’s end—thanks to continuous flows in key channels such as the Grand Anaicut and Vennaru, and the on‑time release of water from Mettur dam on its traditional June 12 date. Since then, Mettur’s reservoir has topped out full on seven separate occasions, aided by extra outflows from Karnataka.
Rainfall during the southwest monsoon in Thanjavur, followed by above‑average northeast monsoon rains from Oct 1 to Dec 11, further bolstered water levels across the delta.
Currently, aside from the 386 fully filled tanks, another 337 hold between 75 % and 99 % of their capacity. Thirty‑one tanks sit between 50 % and 75 %, while only five remain in the 25 %‑50 % range. This improved storage should help keep standing samba crops healthy, secure water for livestock during the summer, raise groundwater levels, and overall strengthen the region’s water security in the Cauvery delta.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
