METTUR (SALEM): Chief minister of Tamil Nadu C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday released water from the Mettur Dam to meet the drinking water requirements and support samba cultivation in the Cauvery delta districts, the rice granaries of the state.As of Tuesday morning, the dam’s water level stood at 91.56 feet, with a storage of 54.452 tmc ft and an inflow of 10,857 cusecs. Water Resources Department officials said the release will be continuously monitored and regulated according to irrigation needs.Departments including Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Water Resources, and Revenue and Disaster Management have been directed to coordinate with district administrations to ensure effective utilisation.

The government stressed that every cubic foot of water must benefit farmers, warning against illegal pumping, unauthorised extraction, and violations of permitted irrigation schemes.

Joint monitoring teams comprising officials from the Electricity Distribution Corporation, Water Resources Department, Revenue Department, and Police will patrol day and night to prevent misuse.

Reaffirming Tamil Nadu’s legal entitlement to Cauvery water, the chief minister said the state would not compromise on its rights upheld by the Cauvery Arbitration Final Award and the Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict.

The government continues to pursue legal and administrative measures to secure the state’s share.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. Farmers were urged to adopt medium-duration rice varieties and water-saving methods such as direct seeding.“Let us use water sparingly, ensure it reaches the end user, and make samba cultivation a success,” the chief minister appealed.