Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru C. Joseph Vijay has on Tuesday, September 01, 2026 released water from the Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir), marking the formal opening of the reservoir for irrigation in the Cauvery delta region. The event held at Mettur in Salem district is the first time the Chief Minister has personally inaugurated the annual water release since assuming office.
From Announcement to Sluice Opening
The water release was formally announced through an official update published by the Salem District Administration, Government of Tamil Nadu, confirming that the Chief Minister released water from the Mettur Dam on September 1, 2026. The government has planned the release for an initial period of 45 days, subject to reservoir storage levels and inflow conditions, with authorities set to monitor and regulate discharge step by step according to irrigation needs.
At the time of release, the Mettur Dam recorded a water level of 91.56 feet (against a full reservoir level of 120 feet), with storage at 54.452 TMC and an inflow of 10,857 cusecs. The initial discharge was set at 3,000 cusecs, expected to be gradually increased to around 7,000 cusecs by evening to meet downstream requirements.
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Significance for Cauvery Delta Farmers
The Mettur Dam is one of Tamil Nadu’s most critical reservoirs, serving as a lifeline for irrigation and drinking water across the Cauvery delta. The September 1 opening is particularly significant for farmers preparing for samba paddy cultivation, the main agricultural season in the delta.
Traditionally, the dam’s sluice gates are opened on June 12 each year to support kuruvai (short-duration paddy) cultivation. This year, however, the opening was deferred by about 80 days due to inadequate rainfall in the Cauvery basin and low storage levels in the Stanley Reservoir. The delayed release brings relief to agricultural communities across 12 delta districts, including Thanjavur often described as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.
Government’s Water Management Stance
The Tamil Nadu government has emphasized ensuring effective utilization of Cauvery water for farmers and other beneficiaries, with instructions to the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Water Resources, and Revenue and Disaster Management departments to coordinate closely with district administrations. According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, every cubic foot of water released from Mettur will be monitored to ensure it reaches intended agricultural and drinking water uses.
Officials have indicated that the duration and volume of release will be reviewed continuously based on inflows, storage, and irrigation demand, with the possibility of extension beyond the initial 45-day window depending on monsoon progress and reservoir conditions.
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Strategic and Agricultural Significance
The Mettur Dam remains the linchpin of irrigation across Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta, dictating the timing and success of the samba paddy season that sustains lakhs of farming families. By ordering the September 01 release, the state government has ended an 80-81 day postponement from the traditional June 12 opening, bringing much-needed certainty to farmers who had been waiting to begin field preparation.
With the reservoir at 91.56 feet and inflows around 10,000 cusecs, authorities have structured the release as a 45-day window that can be extended or modulated based on real-time storage and rainfall data, reflecting a cautious but farmer-sensitive water-management approach. Beyond agriculture, the event holds political weight: it is the Chief Minister’s first Mettur opening since taking office and takes place against the backdrop of continuing Cauvery water negotiations and sensitivities with neighbouring states.
