TN to release Mettur Dam water from Sept 1

The Tamil Nadu government plans to release water from the Mettur Dam starting September 1, for a period of 45 days, contingent on the dam's water storage level and inflow. This decision comes despite meager rainfall in the Cauvery basin during the southwest monsoon season. The release is intended to meet both the water requirements of Tamil Nadu's residents and the irrigation needs of the Cauvery Delta region.

The move was prompted by requests from farmers and the public. On the day of the release, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay will open the Mettur Dam to supply water to the Cauvery Delta. This decision has been marked by delays in opening the dam for delta irrigation due to low reservoir levels and ongoing Cauvery water-sharing disputes between states.

The Supreme Court recently urged Tamil Nadu to address its grievances with the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding Karnataka's failure to release its share of Cauvery water. However, Tamil Nadu's counsel argued that the State was not receiving its entitled share of water. The court, in a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, noted that Karnataka had already released water in line with CWMA directives.

The matter will be revisited on August 31, and Tamil Nadu has sought enforcement of a CWMA decision to release 4.536 TMC of water, or 3,500 cusecs per day, over 15 days, by August 12.