Cauvery dispute: Tamil Nadu orders release of water from Mettur Dam for irrigation

Chennai: With the storage level at Mettur Dam reaching a comfortable position, Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswamy on Thursday ordered release of water for irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts from 2 October.

The chief minister also announced a scheme for samba (long-term crops) at an estimated Rs 41.15 crore, covering the delta districts.

As on date, following good rains, the water level at the Mettur dam was 88.29 feet as against the full level of 120 feet, Palaniswamy said.

“I have directed release of water from Mettur dam from 2 October for samba considering the present water level and anticipating inflows from reservoirs in Karnataka,” he said in a statement.

The decision was also taken anticipating a normal northeast monsoon, one that brings the bulk of rainfall for Tamil Nadu, he added.

He said the sluices of the reservoir, which feeds the Cauvery delta districts, could not be opened on the customary date of 12 June for short-term kuruvai crops for want of adequate water following the drought last year.

However, his government had announced a Rs 56.92 crore scheme to promote pulses plantation then, Palaniswamy said.

Similarly, the government will implement a Rs 41.15 crore samba scheme for the Cauvery delta areas covering Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirappalli and Karur among others, he said.

The highlights of the scheme include subsidy for direct sowing and spraying of pesticide besides for farm equipment.

Cooperative and nationalised banks have been directed to provide adequate crop loans, he said.

The chief minister also referred to the Cauvery river water dispute between his state and Karnataka.

Despite the publication of the 2007 final award of the Cauvery Disputes Tribunal in a central gazette, Karnataka “does not release” Tamil Nadu’s share of water from the river, he said.

Tamil Nadu had therefore moved the Supreme Court in 2013 calling for the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, he recalled.

The state was also repeatedly urging the Centre to constitute the bodies, he added.