Kaveri Delta

The Kaveri Delta primarily spans Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts, with parts of Cuddalore and Pudukkottai as well. Thanjavur has historically been called the 'Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu' because of the delta's fertility. The region depends on both the Mettur Dam releases and traditional irrigation tanks.

The Kaveri Delta is one of India's most important rice-producing regions, supporting intensive paddy cultivation with multiple cropping seasons including Samba and Kuruvai. Sugarcane, pulses, bananas, and coconut are also widely grown. The heavy alluvial soils and reliable canal irrigation make these yields possible.

The Grand Anicut, or Kallanai, is an ancient dam on the Kaveri River attributed to the Chola king Karikalan, traditionally dated to around the 2nd century CE. It is one of the oldest water-diversion structures still in use. The British later reinforced and supplemented it with the Upper Anicut in the 19th century.

The delta's agriculture depends heavily on Kaveri River releases, making it central to the long-running Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The conflict centers on how much water Karnataka must release downstream, especially during drought years. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and subsequent Supreme Court rulings have attempted to allocate shares.