Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay opens the Mettur Dam’s sluice gates, releasing Cauvery water to support irrigation in the state’s delta districts. The release is timed for Samba paddy cultivation and follows a prolonged period of low rainfall and delayed water availability.
Multiple outlets report the opening occurs on September 1 and that the release is expected to run for about 45 days, covering irrigation needs across 12 delta districts. The Hindu adds that this is the 62nd time water is discharged from the dam’s history, but this year the discharge happens after the customary June 12 date, including a pattern of September discharges in the past.
The Times of India places the event within the ongoing Cauvery water dispute, noting the Supreme Court has deferred the hearing to September 15. It also reports that Tamil Nadu seeks directions for Karnataka to clear a backlog of water releases, while Karnataka says it is already releasing more than the quantity stipulated under the dispute arrangements.
