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Mettur Dam: CM Vijay releases water for Cauvery Delta irrigation
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially opened the sluice gates of the Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) on September 1 to provide irrigation for the Cauvery Delta region. The water release is intended to support the 2026-27 Samba cultivation season and meet drinking water needs across approximately 12 to 13 districts, including Salem, Erode, Thanjavur, and Tiruchy.
The release follows a delay from the traditional June 12 opening date, caused by insufficient rainfall in the Cauvery basin earlier this year. However, increased inflows from Karnataka’s Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs, following heavy rains there, have pushed the Mettur reservoir's water level above 90 feet. The government has planned the water release for a 45-day period, subject to ongoing inflow and storage conditions.
The event drew political reactions. AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan criticized the delay, alleging the government failed to pressure Karnataka for timely water release. Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami mocked the Chief Minister's public relations efforts and travel expenses. During his visit to the Salem district, the Chief Minister also made an unscripted stop at a local farmer's residence, where he interacted with residents and gifted his sunglasses to an elderly woman.
Entities
AIADMK · C. Joseph Vijay · Cauvery Delta · Karnataka · Mettur Dam · Tamil Nadu
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Inflow into the Mettur dam increased from 9,035 cusecs to 10,485 cusecs. munsifdaily.com
- [DISPUTED] A continuous release of 2,000 cusecs is being maintained to meet drinking water requirements. munsifdaily.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The delay in water release caused a decline of approximately 42,000 hectares in kuruvai cultivation area. newstodaynet.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Tamil Nadu government has decided to release water for 45 days, subject to reservoir storage and inflow. newstodaynet.com
- [DISPUTED] Available storage in the reservoir was recorded at 53.70 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft). munsifdaily.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will open the Mettur Dam on Tuesday, September 1, to release water for irrigation. munsifdaily.com · newstodaynet.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The water level in the Mettur dam was recorded at 90.47 feet. munsifdaily.com