Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, on Tuesday opened the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur, releasing water for irrigation across the Cauvery delta after a delay of nearly three months caused by inadequate rainfall and poor storage.
The government plans to continue the release for 45 days from September 1, depending on inflows and the availability of water in the reservoir. The discharge is expected to benefit agricultural lands in the delta districts, where farmers have been awaiting water to begin cultivation.