CM Vijay Opens Mettur Dam Sluices for Cauvery Delta Irrigation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay opened the sluices of the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur on Tuesday to release Cauvery water for irrigation in the delta districts. Accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues, including N Anand, the Chief Minister pressed a button to open the sluice gates and showered flower petals on the gushing water to mark the release.

This marks the first time Vijay has opened the historic Mettur Dam since assuming office as Chief Minister. The reservoir serves as a crucial lifeline for farmers in the delta regions of the state.

During his visit to the reservoir premises, Vijay sported a green shawl, traditionally associated with farmers and agriculture, and spent time interacting and posing for photographs with local ryots.

Vijay had arrived in the region on a special flight from Chennai before proceeding to Mettur by road. On his journey to the reservoir town, he conducted a roadshow, waving to and greeting crowds of residents who gathered on both sides of the roadway. Members and cadres of the TVK gave him a reception, erecting party flag poles on road margins and putting up welcome banners and festoons along the route and at major intersections, where members of the public showered flowers on him.

The water released from the reservoir during the scheduled 45-day window is set to reach approximately 12 districts. Among the primary beneficiaries are farmers in Thanjavur, widely known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.

As of September 1, the water storage level in the Mettur Dam stood at 91.56 feet against its full capacity of 120 feet. While June 12 is the customary annual date for opening the sluice gates for delta cultivation, the release was deferred this year due to low storage levels resulting from a poor monsoon.