Ryots to protest delay in getting Cauvery water on August 27

he recent downpour in Kerala and Karnataka resulted in flood in Cauvery River which swelled due to excess water discharged from dams in Karnataka and Kerala. Krishnarajasagar and Kabini dams were overflowing resulting in flood water reaching Mettur Dam. 

More than 2 lakh cusecs were released at the peak of the flooding in this season during the Southwest monsoon.  The already overflowing Cauvery River got more supply from Bhavanisagar and Amaravathi rivers and Kallanai dam received maximum water supply of around 2.75 lakh cusecs of water. The farmers in the Delta districts were initially happy on seeing the flood as they expected to reach all the rear-end areas, but their happiness did not last long as the bulk of Cauvery water was discharged directly into the sea and water did not reach the tail-end areas of Cauvery River.

Though the state government claimed that they had carried out desilting works and water will reach the tail-end areas, farmers say that water had not reached the remote regions as many of the water channels were not desilted.

KP Perumal, treasurer, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, told DT Next, that even today he checked with farmers in Nagapattinam and Thanjavur district and they said that water had not reached the tail-end areas. The water bodies in the tail-end areas were not desilted and the water channels were blocked by thick bushes.

“Even if water is released, the water will not reach the tail-end areas because of thick bushes in the water channels which were not desilted,” said Perumal.

He also said that when Ministers went to inspect the water bodies in Tiruchy district and interacted with the farmers, they informed the Ministers that water was not discharged in the channels all these days and as the Ministers were about the visit, water was released few hours ahead of their visit. On hearing them complain, Tiruchy Collector Rajamani had threatened farmers, in front of the Ministers and the Ministers remained mute on seeing Collector’s strong words towards the farmers, he added.

Condemning the state government for not desilting the water bodies and not taking steps to supply water to the tail-end areas of Cauvery River farmers had decided to stage protest on August 27 in Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai and Tiruvarur districts, said Perumal.