Tamil Nadu CM Vijay opens Mettur Dam gates, releases Cauvery water for 12 delta districts

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday opened the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur for irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts, marking his first such release from the historic dam since taking office.

In the presence of his Cabinet colleagues, including N Anand, Vijay pressed a button to open the sluice gates and showered flowers and grains on the gushing waters. He later posed with farmers at the dam and interacted with them while wearing a green shawl, a symbol associated with farmers and agriculture.

The CM arrived in Salem by a special flight from Chennai and travelled to Mettur by road. En route, he held a roadshow, waving to people who lined the streets. TVK cadres gave him a rousing reception, erecting party flagpoles and putting up welcome banners and festoons at prominent intersections. In several places, people showered flowers on him.

The water released from the dam will benefit farmers across around 12 districts, including those in Thanjavur, known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.

Vijay also inspected a photo exhibition on the iconic Mettur Dam and the journey of the Cauvery River on the reservoir premises.

According to the state government, the water release has been made keeping in mind the drinking water and irrigation needs of the region. It said insufficient rainfall in the Cauvery basin during the southwest monsoon had delayed the release.

The government said water would be released from the Mettur Dam for 45 days from September 1, subject to storage levels and inflows. Farmers have been advised to use the available water economically and systematically and follow official guidance on cultivation.

Officials have also been directed to ensure that water reaches tail-end areas and that every available drop is used effectively to maximise irrigation benefits, in line with the principle of “more crop per drop”.

As of September 1, the water level in the Mettur Dam stood at 91.56 feet, against its full reservoir level of 120 feet.