Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay will officially open the Mettur Dam on September 1, 2026. The state government has authorized the release of water from the dam for a period of 45 days, following a directive from the Chief Minister to address the needs of the public and farmers in the Cauvery delta region.
This decision comes despite challenges in the current irrigation year, which began with only 41.223 TMC of usable water in the reservoir. Due to insufficient rainfall in the Cauvery basin and limited water inflows from Karnataka, the state had previously faced difficulties in maintaining a continuous supply for delta irrigation while ensuring a minimum reserve of 10 TMC for essential drinking water needs.
Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N. Anand confirmed that the government remains committed to securing Tamil Nadu's rightful share of Cauvery water through ongoing legal and administrative efforts.
