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Ryots not sure of getting water despite SC order on Cauvery
While Tamil Nadu farmers are looking up to the Union government to notify the Supreme Court verdict on the Cauvery water dispute to begin Kuruvai cultivation at the right time, a delay in commencement of the works looks certain as Karnataka says there is no water in the reservoirs.
By
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Chennai
State farmers had always complained that Karnataka used water for cultivation even in May and empties the dams by the time when the Kuruvai season begins in Tamil Nadu. Even if the Cauvery Water Management Authority takes over in June, it could not do anything when it finds no water in the dams.
The onset of southwest monsoon is expected in Kerala by May 29 and the court had ordered the Centre to set up the authority before the monsoon season. The Union cabinet will meet on May 23 and it is not known if the subject of Cauvery Water Management Authority will be taken up in the meeting.
Karnataka chief minister designate HD Kumaraswamy had already asserted that there was no water in Karnataka dams and the only hope was good rains after the onset of southwest monsoon which provides water for the dams in Karnataka.
The statements of Tamil Nadu ministers too indicate that the government does not hope to obtain Cauvery water at least for another one month.
State Handloom Minister OS Manian belonging to Nagapattinam, the tail end area of the delta, too shared the opinion of Karnataka chief minister designate and said, “Water can be released only when the storage in Mettur dam reaches 80 feet. Only then water will reach the tail end areas of the delta districts.”
The announcement of Agriculture Minister R Duraikannu that the government would take up desiltation of canals in the delta region also showed that release of Cauvery water would be delayed this year too and the government could undertake desilting the canals. The desilting process could not be carried out if the canals are filled with water. The state government had also disbursed crop loan insurances worth over Rs 3,000 crores for farmers in the region to allay possible resentment in case of delay in obtaining Cauvery water this year.
AIADMK leaders to explain Cauvery victory in Central districts from May 24
AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced that they would address public meetings in the Delta districts to explain the party’s ‘Cauvery victory.’ Dedicating the legal victory to former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, they said the meetings would be held from May 24 to 27.
Panneerselvam would address a meeting in Tiruvarur on May 27, while Palaniswami would attend a meeting at Nagapattinam on May 26. Ministers Dindigul C Sreenivasan, D Jayakumar and MR Vijayabaskar would address a public meeting on May 24. Ministers SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam would hold a meeting on May 27 at Cuddalore, while Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai would speak in Tiruchy on May 26. Minister P Thangamani would take part in a meeting in Pudukottai on May 25.
The Supreme Court verdict to form the Cauvery Water Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee is a great victory for the AIADMK regime, the two leaders said. The Central government too had accepted the apex court verdict to share Cauvery water. In a statement here, the two leaders said the struggle of former chief minister Jayalalithaa to protect the rights and welfare of Tamil Nadu acts like a bulwark for the people.
Left for all-party meet to ensure June 12 release
The Left parties have urged the government to convene an all-party meeting to ensure Cauvery water for June 12 release for undertaking Kuruvai cultivation by the farmers.
K Balakrishnan, state secretary of CPM, said in a statement that the farming community in the delta region was unable to take up Kuruvai cultivation for the last six years. “Even after Supreme Court orders, farmers are suspicious that whether Cauvery water will be released this year. So, the government should convene an all-party meeting to seek opinions from all stakeholders about ensuring water release,” he said and added that the state government did not either react or assure the farmers that water will be released for Kuruvai cultivation on June 12, which is the customary date.
Balakrishnan also demanded the government to assure the farmers and explain the current situation on release of water. “Since farmers in large numbers are debt-ridden in the state, the government should ensure the release and inform the farmers as early as possible,” the CPM leader said.
Similarly, CPI state unit insisted that the government must not delay the release of water for Kuruvai cultivation. “It is a known fact that farming community in the delta region lost hope of getting Cauvery water from Karnataka. At least this year, the government should put pressure on Karnataka and Centre to ensure the release for Kuruvai cultivation,” said R Mutharasan, state secretary of CPI.
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