CM Vijay Opens Mettur Dam, Says Cauvery Water Is Tamil Nadu's Legal Right; Opposition Attacks Delay

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay opened the sluice gates of the Mettur (Stanley) Reservoir on September 1, releasing water for cultivation in the Cauvery Delta and for drinking water needs. It was the first time he opened the reservoir since becoming Chief Minister.

The government had earlier announced September 1 as the release date. The opening came more than two and a half months after the customary June 12 date, a delay the government has attributed to insufficient inflows from Karnataka and low storage at Mettur.

Speaking at Mettur, Vijay said Cauvery water was Tamil Nadu's legal right, secured by the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court's judgment of February 16, 2018, and that the state would not give up that right under any circumstances.

Water is to be released for 45 days from September 1, subject to storage and inflow, for irrigation across the delta districts.

DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan criticised the Chief Minister over the delay, saying he did not understand farming, that around 70 per cent of the Kuruvai crop had already been lost, and that a fixed 45-day release was inadequate as the crop season runs into January. AIADMK functionary Kovai Sathyan said the water should have been released by June 12.