Tamil Nadu CM Vijay opens Mettur Dam releasing Cauvery water for irrigation in State

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay opening the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir, releasing Cauvery water for delta irrigation, at Mettur in Salem district on September 1, 2026 | Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay opened the sluices of Stanley Reservoir in Mettur for delta irrigation on Tuesday (September 1, 2026).

Around 10.15 a.m. on Tuesday, the Chief Minister reached Salem Airport at Kamalapuram. Then, he reached Mettur on road via Thoppur, Mecheri, and Kunjandiyur and released Cauvery water from the dam at 11.30 a.m. and threw flowers on the water that gushed out.

Mr. Vijay also interacted with farmers and received petitions from them. The farmers urged him to open water from the dam for more days instead of the announced 45 days and also sought steps from the government to divert Mettur’s surplus water to water bodies in Thalaivasal.

With Tamil Nadu CM Vijay opening the Mettur dam, focus turns to longevity of water release

Later, he inspected the photo exhibition organised by the Water Resources Department (WRD) and officials explained the ongoing works in the delta region. He also inspected the dam powerhouse. Then, Mr. Vijay left for Salem airport from the inspection bungalow at Mettur around 2 p.m.

Traditionally, water is released from the Mettur dam on June 12 every year and the dam is closed on January 28 after 230 days of discharge of water for irrigation. While a total of 330 TMC is required for irrigation, the date of opening the dam’s sluices changes depending on the availability of water in the dam.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay prays at the time of opening the Stanley Reservoir to release Cauvery water for delta irrigation, in Mettur on September 1, 2026 | Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

This year, owing to inadequate water in the Stanley Reservoir, the reservoir was not opened on the customary date of June 12. After a 80-day delay, water has been discharged from the Mettur dam on September 1 for samba cultivation in the delta region.

Officials attached to the Water Resources Department (WRD) said that for the next 45 days, until October 15, water would be discharged from the dam based on its availability. Initially, the Chief Minister opened 3,000 cusecs of water from the dam and it will be increased to 7,000 cusecs by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, officials added.

It is notable that in the 93-year history of the Mettur Dam, water has been discharged for delta irrigation 20 times on its scheduled date, June 12. For 11 times, water was released from the dam before the customary date. This year, for the 62 nd instance, water has been discharged after the customary date.

Likewise, this was the fourth time water discharged for delta irrigation in the month of September. Earlier in 2002, 2012, and 2016, water discharged from the Mettur dam for delta irrigation in the month of September.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.