CM to Open Mettur Reservoir on September 1 for Cauvery Delta Irrigation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will formally open the sluice gates of the Mettur reservoir in Salem district on September 1, bringing relief to farmers across the Cauvery delta region. The release comes more than two and a half months after the traditional date of June 12, following an increase in storage levels caused by recent rainfall.

State Minister for Water Resources N Anand announced that water will be released from the Stanley reservoir for a period of 45 days. The supply is planned to cater to the drinking water requirements of the state as well as support irrigation activities in the Cauvery delta.

The water level in the dam has risen to over 88 feet against its full reservoir capacity of 120 feet due to recent rains in the catchment areas. The improved inflow allowed the state government to schedule the discharge after months of delay.

Tamil Nadu was unable to open the Mettur dam on its customary June 12 date after Karnataka did not release water from its reservoirs, defying directives from the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority. The delayed release hampered Kuruvai short-term paddy cultivation across the delta districts.

During the standoff over water sharing, Karnataka cited severe shortages for its own needs while Tamil Nadu pursued legal avenues. Vijay had offered to hold peace talks in Bengaluru with his Karnataka counterpart D K Shivakumar to resolve the deadlock. However, Shivakumar advised against the trip due to local tensions and protests by Kannada groups opposing water release to Tamil Nadu.

Subsequent heavy rainfall in the catchment regions averted further disputes and replenished the reservoir. The impending opening was signaled earlier by a preparatory visit from the Inspector General of Police for the Western Region, R V Ramya Bharati. The state government subsequently confirmed that the Chief Minister will personally attend the opening ceremony at Mettur on September 1.