<span style="color: #222222;">In Tamil Nadu, the opening of the state's biggest dam, the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur, has been advanced to the 24th of this month. A statement from the State Government said, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has ordered its release nineteen days in advance in view of the comfortable water storage in the dam. It will benefit about four lakh acres of land in the ten Cauvery Delta districts including Thanjavur. The opening of the Mettur Dam is considered a significant event in the state's agriculture sector.<br />'' <br />''AIR correspondent reports that this is the first time after Independence that the Mettur Dam is being opened in advance, that too in the summer month of May, thanks to the persistent rain in the Cauvery catchment areas. The dam used to be opened on June 12th, which is the set target date. In many years in the past, the opening has been delayed due to low storage. But, this time, against the maximum level of 120-feet, the dam has now water up to 115.35 feet and the current storage is measured at 86.25 TMC of water. If the inflow continues at the present rate, the dam is expected to reach its full level in a matter of a few days. </span>