Archive · 29 Aug 2026
PMK Welcomes Mettur Dam Opening, Seeks Karnataka Water Share
Tamil Nadu plans to open the Mettur Dam to provide water for farmers.
The water will help existing Kuruvai crops and support planting Samba crops.
The opening was delayed because the dam did not have enough water.
Recent rain and inflows raised the dam’s level, but storage is still low.
Many water bodies in the delta region have dried up.
Farmers may need more water later in the season to grow their crops.
Anbumani Ramadoss said Karnataka should release Tamil Nadu’s water share.
He urged Tamil Nadu to use legal and official channels to secure that water.
The Tamil Nadu government plans to release Mettur Dam water from September 1 for Kuruvai crops and Samba cultivation.
Pattali Makkal Katchi president Anbumani Ramadoss welcomed the decision but warned that dam storage remains low.
The dam’s water level reached 89.24 feet, or 51.78 TMC feet, after recent inflows.
Anbumani said Tamil Nadu should press Karnataka through the Cauvery Water Management Authority and Supreme Court for its allocated water.
He said cultivating 18 lakh acres of Samba and Thaladi crops requires about 160 TMC, while Tamil Nadu is entitled to 114.11 TMC between late August and December.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu government, Pattali Makkal Katchi president Anbumani Ramadoss, Karnataka, and delta farmers.
- What
- Tamil Nadu is opening the Mettur Dam for irrigation, while Anbumani is urging the state to secure additional Cauvery water from Karnataka.
- When
- Water release is scheduled to begin on September 1; the dam opening is planned for Tuesday, and Anbumani issued his statement on Thursday.
- Where
- The water will be released from Mettur Dam for crops in Tamil Nadu’s delta region.
- Why
- The release is intended to protect Kuruvai crops and begin Samba cultivation despite low storage and dried-up water bodies.
- Planned release
- September 1
- Mettur Dam level
- 89.24 feet, equivalent to 51.78 TMC feet
- Samba and Thaladi area
- 18 lakh acres
- Estimated crop water requirement
- About 160 TMC
- Tamil Nadu’s mandated share
- 114.11 TMC between late August and December
- Delta water conditions
- About 95% of water bodies have reportedly dried up
- Requested Karnataka release
- Anbumani said releasing two TMC daily could clear Karnataka’s backlog by the end of September