Convene CMB to aid kuruvai: Vaiko

In his statement, Vaiko said, “The water level in Cauvery dam had reduced due to water released constantly for drinking water purpose and the level of water stands at 50.61 feet. If the level continues, there will no water for cultivation and the entire delta region is relying only on the Cauvery water for irrigation.”

Vaiko said that the cultivation seasons such as Kuruvai, Samba and Thaladi would commence from June 12 and would go on till January 28. In the 86 years of history of Mettur dam, water had been released for cultivation from Mettur on June 12 in only 15 occasion and in the rest of the year’s water release had been postponed due to Karnataka refusing to release water.

Cauvery water feeds 12 districts in the state and more than 16 lakh acres of farm lands are relying solely on Cauvery water for cultivation. This year due to shortage of monsoon there is water crisis and so the Cauvery water is discharged from Mettur for drinking water purpose.

Due to water scarcity, water release had been increased from 1000 cusecs to 3,000 cusecs per day. Under the circumstance, the farmers are under fear that if all the water is discharged for drinking purpose they will not get water for irrigation.

To avoid such a situation, state should take steps to convene CMB and to release water for cultivation of Kuruvai crops, the MDMK leader said.