Chennai, 01 September (H.S.):Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday opened the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur, releasing Cauvery water for irrigation in the delta districts after a delay of nearly 80 days.
The Chief Minister arrived at Salem Airport in Kamalapuram before travelling by road to Mettur through Thoppur, Mecheri and Kunjandiyur. At the reservoir, he formally opened the sluices and showered flowers on the water as it gushed out of the dam.
The release is expected to benefit farmers across the Cauvery delta, where cultivation has been affected by the delayed availability of irrigation water. The government has announced that water will initially be released for 45 days, subject to the reservoir's storage level and inflow.
Vijay interacted with farmers gathered at the dam and received petitions highlighting their demands. Farmers urged the government to continue the water release beyond the announced 45-day period to protect standing crops and support agricultural operations.
They also sought measures to divert surplus water from the Mettur reservoir to lakes and other waterbodies in the Thalaivasal region. Such a project, they said, would help improve groundwater availability and provide greater irrigation security in the area.
The Chief Minister later visited a photo exhibition organised by the Water Resources Department. Officials briefed him on irrigation infrastructure and ongoing development works in the Cauvery delta. He also inspected the dam's powerhouse before leaving Mettur for Salem Airport at around 2 p.m.
Water is traditionally released from the Mettur dam on June 12 every year for kuruvai cultivation and irrigation in the delta. The dam is normally closed on January 28 after supplying water for around 230 days.
However, the opening was postponed this year because of inadequate storage. Around 330 thousand million cubic feet of water is required for a full irrigation season, and the release schedule is determined by storage and inflow conditions.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman