Mettur dam water release: CM Vijay opens sluices for Cauvery delta on Sep 1
Synopsis
After an 11-week delay caused by poor Cauvery catchment rainfall, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay opened the Mettur dam sluices on 1 September, sending 3,000 cusecs into the Cauvery for 45 days of delta irrigation. The turnaround came only after heavy Karnataka rains pushed Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs to overflow — a reminder of how dependent Tamil Nadu's farming belt remains on upstream weather patterns it cannot control.
Key Takeaways
CM Vijay released water from Mettur dam on 1 September 2025 , nearly 11 weeks after the customary 12 June date.
Initial discharge is 3,000 cusecs , to be increased in phases over a 45-day release window.
The release covers nearly 16 lakh acres of agricultural land across 13 Cauvery delta districts .
The delay was caused by deficient rainfall in Cauvery catchment areas; the situation improved after heavy rains in Karnataka boosted inflows into Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs.
The reservoir's water level crossed 90 feet before authorities cleared the release.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Tuesday, 1 September formally released water from the Mettur dam into the Cauvery river system for irrigation across the Cauvery delta districts, after improved reservoir inflows pushed the water level past the 90-foot mark. The release, delayed nearly 11 weeks beyond the customary date, brings relief to farmers across 16 lakh acres of agricultural land in 13 districts.
Why the Release Was Delayed
Water from the Mettur dam is conventionally discharged on 12 June every year to support the delta's cultivation cycle. This year, deficient rainfall over the Cauvery catchment areas prevented authorities from adhering to that schedule. The dam's storage remained critically low through most of the summer months, leaving delta farmers in uncertainty.
The situation turned around after heavy rainfall swept through Karnataka over the past two weeks. Inflows into the Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs rose substantially, prompting Karnataka authorities to discharge surplus water into the Cauvery. That cascade of releases steadily lifted inflows into the Mettur reservoir until storage crossed the 90-foot threshold — the level authorities consider adequate to support a sustained irrigation run.
How the Release Will Work
The Tamil Nadu government announced that water will be discharged for 45 days starting 1 September to facilitate irrigation across the delta. An initial flow of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) will be released into the Cauvery, with discharge to be increased in phases based on irrigation demand and ongoing inflows into the reservoir.
Chief Minister Vijay travelled from Chennai to the Omalur Kamalapuram airport in Salem by private aircraft and then proceeded by road to Mettur to formally open the dam's sluice gates.
Districts and Land Covered
The Mettur dam is widely regarded as the lifeline of the Cauvery delta farming belt. The release provides irrigation water to nearly 16 lakh acres of agricultural land across 13 districts — Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Perambalur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai. Farmers in these districts had been pressing the government to act on their demands for weeks.
Security and Arrangements
Extensive preparations were put in place for the Chief Minister's visit. Party flags lined the route from the airport to Mettur, and iron barricades were installed along roads from Omalur to Mecheri and Mettur. Police across Salem district were placed on heightened alert, with additional personnel deployed at the airport, the dam site, and key points along the convoy route, anticipating large crowds gathering to receive the Chief Minister.
With the 45-day release window now open, delta farmers will be watching inflow patterns closely — any further surge from Karnataka could allow authorities to increase the discharge rate and extend the irrigation window.
Point of View
A state with its own competing water demands. The Cauvery dispute has a long legal and political history, yet each dry summer exposes the same pressure point. That a reservoir of Mettur's scale required Karnataka's surplus discharge to reach viability is not a one-off — it is a pattern. The state's push for better intra-basin storage and independent catchment management deserves more urgency than it typically receives outside drought years.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Mettur dam water release delayed this year?
The release was delayed because deficient rainfall over the Cauvery catchment areas kept the reservoir below the level needed for a sustained irrigation run. Water could only be released after heavy rains in Karnataka boosted inflows into the Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs, which then discharged surplus water into the Cauvery, lifting Mettur's storage past 90 feet.
How much water is being released from Mettur dam and for how long?
An initial discharge of 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) has been ordered, to be increased in phases depending on irrigation requirements and inflows. The release is scheduled to continue for 45 days starting 1 September.
Which districts will benefit from the Mettur dam water release?
The release will irrigate nearly 16 lakh acres of agricultural land across 13 districts: Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Perambalur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai.
When is water normally released from the Mettur dam?
Water is customarily released from the Mettur dam on 12 June every year to support the delta cultivation cycle. This year's release on 1 September came approximately 11 weeks later than usual due to low reservoir levels.
What is the significance of the Mettur dam for Tamil Nadu farmers?
The Mettur dam is considered the lifeline of the Cauvery delta farming belt, providing irrigation water to nearly 16 lakh acres across 13 districts. The timing of its annual release directly determines the cultivation calendar for millions of delta farmers.
