With Mettur Dam witnessing steady inflows following Karnataka’s release of water from the Cauvery River, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday ordered opening its sluice gates for irrigating samba crops in the delta districts.
“To enable farmers take up samba cultivation, I have directed release of water from Mettur Dam from September 20, 2016,” she said.
The government decision to release water was based on factors like the dam touching 84.76 feet (capacity 120 ft), likelihood of receiving more water from Karnataka reservoirs in view of the Supreme Court order, the Cauvery Supervisory Committee’s expected decision on quantum of water for her state and an anticipated normal north east monsoon, she said.
Tamil Nadu has received 8.92 tmcft of water till September 14 at Biligundulu, the designated entry point, with Karnataka releasing water following the Apex Court order, Jayalalithaa said in a statement.
She recalled that the 2007 final award of the Cauvery disputes tribunal was published in a Central gazette in 2013 after a Supreme Court order, and blamed the Centre for not constituting the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.
