Tamil Nadu 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 water for irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts. Accompanied by Cabinet colleagues including N Anand, the Chief Minister turned on a button to open the sluice gates and showered flowers on the water.

This is the first time Vijay has opened the historic Mettur dam, considered the lifeline of farmers in the state's delta regions, since becoming Chief Minister. During his visit to the dam premises, he posed with farmers and interacted with ryots while sporting a green shawl, which is viewed as a symbol of agriculture.

The Chief Minister arrived in Mettur by road after traveling by a special flight from Chennai. Along the route to the reservoir town, he held a road show, greeted citizens, and waved at crowds gathered on both sides of the road. Party cadres from the TVK gave him a reception, setting up flag poles, welcome banners, and festoons along the route where onlookers showered him with flowers.

The water discharged from the dam during this 45-day window is designed to reach approximately 12 districts, primarily benefiting farmers in Thanjavur, which is regarded as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. According to data as of September 1, the storage level in the Mettur dam stood at 91.56 feet out of its full capacity of 120 feet.

The customary date for opening the sluice gates is June 12. However, the release was deferred this year due to a poor monsoon and low storage levels in the reservoir.

"The timely release of water for irrigation is critical for the agrarian economy, particularly in key agricultural regions like Thanjavur. While seasonal dependencies and low storage levels can cause operational delays, managing water resources efficiently remains vital for regional economic stability and the livelihood of local farming communities." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes