Salem, June 16 (IANS) Farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district have expressed growing concern over the steep decline in water storage across the district’s dams, warning that the situation could affect cultivation in nearly 34,000 acres during the upcoming sowing season if adequate rainfall does not materialise.

Agriculture remains the backbone of the district’s economy, with cultivation spread across nearly two lakh hectares.

Farming activity in the region is heavily dependent on seasonal rainfall, and the district typically receives an average annual rainfall of around 942 mm through the southwest and northeast monsoons. However, rainfall during the previous year was significantly below normal, with the district recording only about 690 mm. The rainfall deficit has had a direct impact on water availability, resulting in a sharp reduction in storage levels in the district’s dams and reservoirs.

According to available data, the seven major dams in the district currently hold only around 12 per cent of their combined storage capacity of 4,267 million cubic feet (mcft).

Water levels have fallen considerably following the failure of the northeast monsoon, which is a key source of recharge for many reservoirs in the region. Farmers fear that the depleted storage levels could pose serious challenges for irrigation during the cultivation season.

The seven major reservoirs, excluding the smaller Echambadi dam, provide irrigation support to nearly 33,948 acres of agricultural land.

With water reserves at critically low levels and rainfall patterns becoming increasingly erratic, cultivators are apprehensive about the prospects for farming in the months ahead.

While intermittent summer showers have brought some relief in recent weeks, they have not been sufficient to substantially improve reservoir storage.

Farmers are closely monitoring the progress of the southwest monsoon, which is crucial for replenishing water bodies and ensuring adequate irrigation supplies.

Agricultural stakeholders have indicated that if the southwest monsoon also underperforms, authorities may have to consider declaring the district drought-prone and extending relief measures to affected farmers.

Meanwhile, officials of the Water Resources Department have sought to reassure cultivators, expressing confidence that the advancing southwest monsoon will bring the rainfall necessary to improve storage levels in the dams.

Officials attributed the current situation largely to the failure of last year’s northeast monsoon and said reservoir inflows are expected to increase as monsoon activity intensifies in the coming weeks.

–IANS

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