Tamil Nadu to open Mettur dam gates for delta irrigation from September

The Tamil Nadu government will commence water release from the Mettur dam on September 1, marking the beginning of the delta irrigation season. Water Resources Minister N. Anand made the announcement, confirming that the dam gates will remain open for a continuous 45-day period to facilitate irrigation across the Cauvery delta region.

The scheduled water release is part of the state's annual irrigation calendar, designed to ensure adequate water supply to agricultural areas during the critical growing season. The Mettur dam, located in Salem district, serves as a crucial water source for extensive agricultural tracts across the delta region of Tamil Nadu.

The 45-day release window is expected to benefit thousands of farmers dependent on canal irrigation for their cultivation activities. State officials have indicated that the water release timing is aligned with the monsoon season and prevailing water availability in the dam's reservoir.

This announcement comes as part of the state government's efforts to optimize water resource management and ensure timely irrigation supply during peak agricultural demand periods. The water release will flow through the established canal network to irrigate fields across multiple districts in the delta zone.