“Cauvery water is Tamil Nadu’s legal right; we won’t give up”: CM Vijay opens Mettur Dam for Samba cultivation, drinking water needs
Reaffirming the state’s legal entitlement to Cauvery water, the chief minister said Tamil Nadu would not compromise on its rights upheld by the Cauvery Arbitration Final Award and the Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict. The dam’s water level stood at 91.56 feet on Tuesday morning, with a storage of 54.452 tmcft and an inflow of 10,857 cusecs.
“Let us use water sparingly, ensure it reaches the end user, and make samba cultivation a success,” the chief minister said after releasing the water. Acknowledging the deficit in the southwest monsoon and the impact of El Niño, Vijay said the release was a planned measure to manage limited resources and safeguard samba cultivation. Water resources department officials said the release would be continuously monitored and regulated according to irrigation needs.
The govt continues to pursue legal and administrative measures to secure the state’s share. Farmers were urged to adopt medium-duration rice varieties and water-saving methods such as direct seeding. Departments including agriculture and farmers welfare, water resources, and revenue and disaster management have been directed to coordinate with district administrations to ensure effective utilization. The govt stressed that every cubic foot of water must benefit farmers, warning against illegal pumping, unauthorized extraction and violations of permitted irrigation schemes.
METTUR: Chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday released water from the Mettur dam to meet drinking water requirements and support samba cultivation in the Cauvery delta districts.
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Chellam told reporters that she requested the CM for the monthly dole which is not properly credited to her account. A touching moment unfolded when the elderly matriarch of the family, Chellam, escorted Vijay to the doorstep. In a gesture that moved the villagers, the CM removed his branded designer sunglasses and gently placed them on the old woman’s face before waving to the crowd hand-in-hand with her. The emotional exchange drew loud applause, with villagers later flocking to her home to take selfies wearing the gifted glasses. Continuing his return journey to Salem airport, Vijay halted again upon noticing women working in nearby fields. He walked to the fields and conversed with them about wages, crop protection and the challenges posed by the current monsoon. Download the TOI App.
The family told him that banana cultivation was their primary livelihood, prompting the chief minister to note down their needs for possible govt support. Joint monitoring teams comprising officials from the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited, water resources department, revenue department and police will patrol day and night to prevent misuse. CM’s surprise visit to village After presiding over the formal release, Vijay made an unannounced stop at Chinnakavoor village, leaving residents pleasantly surprised. Without prior intimation, his convoy turned into the village, where crowds quickly gathered to greet him. Entering farmer P Ramasamy’s house, he interacted warmly with the family, gifting them traditional silk saris and inquiring about their farming practices, economic conditions and daily challenges.