Delta farmers sceptical about Kuruvai crop over poor water availability

Since the South West monsoon rain is expected only after the first week of June this year, it is estimated that dams and other waterbodies in Karnataka will be filled only after a few days of rainfall in the catchment area. It would then take further time to release the excess water, which has been practiced for the past few seasons.

Anticipating usual rainfall in the catchment area in Karnataka and the subsequent release of excess water, the farmers in the Cauvery Delta region have started initial works for Kuruvai cultivation. The works are on full swing at the districts like Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam with the support of the ground water. The farmers in these districts have started to raise nurseries using bore wells.

However, it is said, the ground water in these districts have drastically gone down to 200 feet. In some areas, the ground water level has dropped to 300 feet. Hence, the farmers are worried whether they could continue working for kuruvai cultivation.

“Already there is scarcity of drinking water and there are giant borewells erected along the riverbeds to draw water for drinking purpose. This would result the situation into bad to worse. So, we are doubtful about the kuruvai cultivation,” said A Swaminathan, a farmers’ association representative from Tiruvarur.

He also said that the farmers from the region are waiting for the State government to initiate steps to get the due water for the month of May from Karnataka as per the Cauvery tribunalverdict.