Archive · 23 Sep 2026
CPI Blames TVK for Rushed Mettur Dam Opening
CPI leader Mutharasan criticised the way the Mettur dam was opened.
He said it was opened on September 1 without enough consultation.
Farmers growing samba rice need water for about 150 days.
He argued that the late opening means many farmers will not benefit.
He also said the water flow is too weak to reach canals and fields properly.
Mutharasan said the government should use both legal and political pressure to obtain Cauvery water from Karnataka.
He questioned why TVK does not criticise the BJP.
He also said changing parties soon after winning elections harms democracy.
CPI state secretary Mutharasan blamed TVK’s unilateral decision to open the Mettur dam on September 1 for friction with Left parties.
He said one-crop samba cultivation needs 150 days of water, making the opening too late to benefit farmers.
Mutharasan said water must be released at 15,000–18,000 cusecs to reach irrigation canals and fields effectively.
He accused the government of pursuing only legal action, rather than also applying political pressure on Karnataka for Cauvery water.
He criticised TVK’s positions on the BJP, the Governor, and upcoming by-elections, calling party-switching by elected representatives a threat to democracy.
- Who
- Communist Party of India state secretary Mutharasan, the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, Left parties, and the Tamil Nadu government are central to the dispute.
- What
- Mutharasan criticised the rushed opening of the Mettur dam and raised wider political objections against TVK and the government.
- When
- The dam was opened on September 1; Mutharasan made the remarks at a media conference on Tuesday.
- Where
- Mutharasan spoke in Pudukkottai, while the water concerns involve the Mettur dam and delta-region agriculture.
- Why
- He said the opening lacked consultation, came too late for one-crop samba cultivation, and released insufficient water to reach agricultural fields.
- Dam opening date
- September 1
- Water needed for samba cultivation
- 150 days
- Required water release
- 15,000–18,000 cusecs, according to Mutharasan
- Main criticism
- The dam was opened without consultation and in a hurry
- Current impact
- Water was described as flowing weakly along river edges, while delta lakes remained dry
- Cauvery demand
- Mutharasan called for both legal and political pressure on Karnataka
- By-election claim
- Mutharasan said the Left parties’ candidates would win and criticised recent party-switching by elected representatives