Delta farmers have urged the Tamil Nadu government to issue necessary instructions to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) to give priority to farm power supply in the wake of the delay in releasing of water for irrigation from the Mettur dam.Normally the shutters of the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur would be lifted on June 12 for irrigation in Delta districts. However, when it was not possible to stick on to the scheduled date of opening of the dam, uninterrupted farm power supply would be ensured in the areas where lift irrigation facilities were available, farmers said.Stating that in the recent past special priority in supply was provided to farm power connections when there was a delay in opening of the dam or increasing/stepping up the quantum of water released for kuruvai cultivation, G.Srinivasan of Ganapathi Agraharam, a progressive farmer urged the Tamil Nadu government, through the District Collector R. Revathi to instruct the TNPDCL to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the agriculture pump sets in the Delta and thereby help farmers save the kuruvai crop.Meanwhile, the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations in Tamil Nadu has claimed that the standing crop raised through lift irrigation at several places across Delta started withering for want of water as these areas were hit by improper and inadequate power supply.In a statement issued on June 11, the Committee president P. R. Pandian said that the current situation was a fallout of the inefficiency on the part of the Cauvery Water Management Authority.“It had just issued directions to the Upper Riparian State to release 19 tmc of water to Tamil Nadu in its recently held meeting and had not followed it up though the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Tribunal have confirmed that it was the responsibility of the Authority to ensure proper distribution of water among the beneficiary States”, he said. Published - June 11, 2026 05:28 pm IST