Tamil Nadu to Release Mettur Dam Water for Cauvery Delta Irrigation From September 1

The Tamil Nadu government announced on August 27 that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will open the sluice gates of the Mettur (Stanley) Reservoir on September 1 to release water for Kuruvai cultivation in the Cauvery Delta.

The opening comes more than two and a half months after the traditional June 12 release date, with the delay attributed to Karnataka not releasing sufficient water from its reservoirs into the Cauvery. Recent rains raised the level at Mettur past 88 feet against a full level of 120 feet, nearing the mandatory 90-foot mark required before water can be released for irrigation.

Water is expected to be released for 45 days from September 1, depending on availability and inflow, benefiting agriculture across roughly 17 lakh acres of farmland in 12 districts, including Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai.

Some local reports had earlier suggested Vijay could open the dam as early as August 28, but the government subsequently confirmed September 1 as the date.