CM Vijay Releases Cauvery Water From Mettur Dam, Calls It Tamil Nadu's Right

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday morning officially ordered the release of water from the Mettur Dam to meet critical drinking water requirements and support Samba rice cultivation in the Cauvery Delta region. The water release took place amid an ongoing interstate dispute with neighbouring Karnataka regarding water sharing from the Cauvery River. Asserting the state’s position, Chief Minister Vijay reiterated that access to the river's water remains a legal right for Tamil Nadu, which is essential to protect the livelihoods of regional farmers.

The water released from the reservoir is vital for the Cauvery Delta, an agricultural hub that heavily relies on timely irrigation to sustain its seasonal crops. Farmers in the region have been eagerly awaiting this administrative move to initiate the sowing and transplantation processes for the crucial Samba rice variety. Local authorities have planned the distribution networks to ensure that the water reaches agricultural fields efficiently, while simultaneously prioritizing municipal reservoirs to secure uninterrupted drinking water supplies for multiple downstream districts.

According to the latest technical data provided by public works department officials at the site, the Mettur Dam currently holds a storage volume of 54.452 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water. The reservoir's water level was officially recorded at 91.56 feet against its total capacity, with the rate of inflow measured at 10,857 cusecs. This volume provides a necessary baseline buffer for the state to begin seasonal agricultural operations, though long-term irrigation sustainability will depend heavily on sustained inflows in the coming months.

Also Read: CM Vijay to Open Mettur Dam Gates On September 1 Amid Cauvery Row

The timing of the release comes during a period of renewed political and administrative tension between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over compliance with the Cauvery Water Management Authority's (CWMA) weekly release mandates. While Tamil Nadu continues to demand its full legal share based on historical awards and court decrees, upstream Karnataka has frequently cited deficient rainfall in its catchment areas as a limitation on its ability to discharge water. Chief Minister Vijay’s administration has signaled its intent to continue utilizing legal and diplomatic channels to ensure the state's agricultural interests are not compromised.

Local farming associations have widely welcomed the Chief Minister's decisive directive, noting that any further delay in opening the sluice gates would have severely disrupted the seasonal crop cycle and threatened agricultural yields. However, agricultural experts caution that careful water management and optimal utilization strategies must be maintained by local irrigation boards, given the unpredictable nature of external inflows. The state government has directed district collectors across the delta region to closely monitor canal networks and prevent any unauthorized diversion or wastage of the released water resource.

Also Read: CM Vijay to Open Mettur Dam Gates On September 1 Amid Cauvery Row