After 70-day delay, Mettur shutters to be opened for Delta irrigation on August 27

COIMBATORE: Water from Mettur dam is set to be released for irrigation in the Cauvery Delta on August 28, following a steady rise in the reservoir level, which has approached the crucial 90-foot mark.

Due to delay in water release from Karnataka, the shutters are being opened after a 70-day delay.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to travel from Chennai to Salem by air and proceed to Mettur dam to open the sluice gates for irrigation. Ahead of the release, Salem Collector K Elambahavath and senior police officials inspected the dam on Wednesday to review preparations and security arrangements.

The reservoir could not be opened for delta irrigation on the customary June 12 this year due to inadequate storage leaving farmers in the delta districts in distress. As of 4 pm on Wednesday, the water level stood at 89 feet, just a foot short of the 90-foot mark. Inflow was recorded at 8,827 cubic feet per second (cusecs), while 2,000 cusecs was being released for drinking water requirements.

Collector Elambahavath inspected the dam and held discussions with Water Resources Department officials on the arrangements for the water release.

Meanwhile, West Zone Inspector General of Police RV Ramya Bharathi, Salem Range Deputy Inspector General Santhosh Hadimani, and other senior police officials reviewed the security arrangements at the dam ahead of the visit of the Chief Minister.