Tamil Nadu Farmers Seek Urgent Cauvery Water Release
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu: In a compelling demonstration, farmers in the Cauvery River region of Tamil Nadu stood their ground in the Cauvery river near Mokombu, Trichy district. They fervently demanded the immediate release of water from the neighboring state of Karnataka, continuing a long-standing battle over the sharing of Cauvery river waters.
Cauvery Water Farmers Voice Concerns
The farmers, under the banner of the ‘Cauvery Padugai Padukappu Koottiyakkam’ (Cauvery Water Protection Committee), staged these protests with a clear message: Tamil Nadu must receive its rightful share of Cauvery water as mandated by the Cauvery Water Management Authority.
They emphasized the critical condition of the ‘kuruvai’ crop, which is standing ready for cultivation but faces the threat of withering due to Karnataka’s reluctance to release water. Additionally, they stressed the need for water to initiate ‘samba’ paddy cultivation in the delta districts.
Agricultural Crisis Looms
PR Pandian, the General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Association, expressed grave concerns. He pointed out that ‘kuruvai’ cultivation occupies approximately 5 lakh acres in the Cauvery delta, of which nearly 3.50 lakh acres are at risk of drying up due to the lack of Cauvery water. Samba cultivation, covering about 15 lakh acres, has also come to a halt. Pandian asserted that the denial of water, despite orders from the Cauvery Water Authority, is untenable, calling for immediate action to secure water in line with the authority’s directives, with the assistance of the central government.
Official Directives and Protests
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) recently directed Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for an additional 15 days, following a recommendation by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.
Meanwhile, protests have erupted in various parts of Karnataka, following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the directives of the CWMA and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, instructing Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
The Cauvery water-sharing issue continues to be a pressing concern for farmers in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, highlighting the ongoing struggle over water resources in the region.
