India, Sept. 2 -- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday opened the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur, releasing Cauvery water for Samba cultivation and drinking needs across the delta, in his first Mettur water-release ceremony since taking office.

The gates were opened when the reservoir stood at 91.56 feet, against its full level of 120 feet. The storage was 54.452 tmcft, with an inflow of 10,857 cusecs.

The water will be released for 45 days from Tuesday to support Samba cultivation and meet drinking water requirements in the Cauvery delta.

The release came nearly three months later than the customary June 12 schedule. The delay was linked to weak rainfall in the Cauvery catchment and poor inflows into th...