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

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will release water from the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur in Salem district on September 1 to support irrigation across the Cauvery delta region.

Minister for Water Resources N. Anand announced on Wednesday that water will be released for a period of 45 days. According to an official release, the decision was taken after considering the State’s drinking water requirements and the irrigation needs of the Cauvery delta, despite inadequate rainfall in the Cauvery basin during the southwest monsoon, and in response to requests from farmers and the public.

At the beginning of the 2026–27 water year, the Mettur dam had only 41.223 tmcft of water. As adequate water was not received from the reservoirs in Karnataka and it was necessary to maintain the dam’s minimum storage level of 10 tmcft, water could not be continuously released for irrigation in the delta region. However, the required quantity of water continued to be released from the dam to meet the essential drinking water needs of the people.

To secure Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water, the Tamil Nadu government continued to take firm legal and administrative measures and presented its stand before the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and the Cauvery Water Management Authority. Steps were also taken to protect the State’s legitimate rights by approaching the Supreme Court, and as a result of these efforts, orders were obtained to ensure that the State receives its due share of water at Biligundlu.

Considering the gradual increase in the water level of the Mettur dam, the expected inflow, and the upcoming northeast monsoon, the government decided to release water to meet drinking water and delta irrigation requirements.

Mr. Anand also urged farmers to use the available water judiciously and in a planned manner, and to undertake cultivation in accordance with the advice of the Agriculture Department. The concerned District Collectors and officials of the Water Resources and Agriculture Departments have been instructed to work in coordination to ensure that water reaches the tail-end areas.