TN CM Vijay releases water from Mettur dam for irrigation
After he became the CM, this was the first time Vijay opened the historic Mettur dam, the lifeline of farmers in the delta regions
Salem (Tamil Nadu), Sep 1 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay opened the sluices of the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur on Tuesday for irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts.
Vijay, in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues, including N Anand, turned on a button to open the sluice gates and showered flowers and grains on the gushing waters marking the release of Cauvery water.
After he became the chief minister, this is the first time Vijay opens the historic Mettur dam, the lifeline of farmers in the delta regions of the state. He also posed with farmers on the premises of the dam. Sporting a green shawl, seen as a symbol of farmers and agriculture, he interacted with ryots.
After arriving here by a special flight from Chennai, Vijay reached Mettur by road.
On his way to the reservoir town, he held a road show, greeted people, and enthusiastically waved at them, who lined up both sides of the road.
The CM was given a rousing reception by the TVK cadres, who erected party flag poles on road margins and also put up welcome banners and festoons along roadsides and prominent intersections.
In several places, people showered flowers on him.
The water discharged from the dam reaches about 12 districts, including the primary beneficiary farmers in Thanjavur, considered the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.
On the premises of the reservoir, the CM also inspected a photo expo on the iconic Mettur dam and the journey of River Cauvery.
The release was keeping in mind the drinking water and irrigation needs, by accepting requests from farmers and the general public, the government said, adding sufficient rainfall was not received in the Cauvery basin during the southwest monsoon season.
The government said the water release -- depending on the storage level and inflow -- from the Mettur Dam will be for 45 days starting September 1.
Farmers were requested to use the available water economically and systematically, and to carry out cultivation activities in accordance with official advice.
Officials were also tasked with ensuring that the water reached the tail-end areas and every available drop of water yielded maximum irrigation benefit, and "more crop per drop" was achieved.
As on September 1, the storage in Mettur dam is 91.56 ft out of the full 120 ft.
Though June 12 is the customary date for opening the sluice gates, the exercise was deferred due to poor monsoon and low storage levels. PTI