Mettur dam likely to be opened by Tamil Nadu CM Vijay on August 28; Salem Collector holds inspection

With the water level in the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur in Salem district likely to touch 90 feet in a few days, raising hopes of the release of water for Delta irrigation, Salem Collector K. Elambahavath on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) inspected the dam and held discussions with officials of the Water Resources Department.

Though it is customary to release water from the dam for irrigation on June 12 every year, benefiting around 16 lakh acres in the delta districts, the release could not be made this year on the customary date due to inadequate storage. However, following increased release from reservoirs in Karnataka, the water level rose to 88.84 feet, against the reservoir’s full level of 120 feet, at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The storage stood at 51.33 tmc ft., against the reservoir’s total capacity of 94.47 tmc ft. The inflow was 10,405 cusecs, while 2,000 cusecs was being discharged into the Cauvery.

Announcement on CM Vijay releasing Cauvery water from Mettur dam

The rise in the water level has raised hopes among farmers, who are awaiting the release of Cauvery water for Delta irrigation. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is likely to release the water on August 28, with an announcement expected shortly.

With preparations under way for the release, Inspector-General of Police (West Zone) R.V. Ramya Bharathi, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Salem Range) Santhosh Hadimani and Salem District Superintendent of Police S. Kuthalingam also inspected the dam and reviewed the security arrangements.