Farmers sceptical about K'taka releasing CWMA-ordered quota
Farmers in the delta districts have welcomed the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) decision to direct Karnataka to release 9.2 TMC water due for Tamil Nadu as per the final orders of the Supreme Court. However, they expressed scepticism on whether the Karnataka government would comply with the order citing previous experiences.
By : migrator
Update: 2019-05-28 23:04 GMT
Thiruchirapalli
Stating that the CWMA functioned in a fair way, Mahadanapuram Rajaram, president of Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association, welcomed its order. “But, we doubt whether the Karnataka government would implement the direction. It might instigate farmers there to protest against releasing water,” he said.
P R Pandian, general secretary of Tamilaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam welcomed the order, and said that was the duty of the Cauvery Water Regulating Committee to ensure release of the water from the reservoirs in Karnataka.
Sharing his thoughts, Puliyur A Nagarajan, TMC farmers’ wing president, said the authority should also ensure that the Karnataka government releases the water accordingly. He wanted the body to be autonomous like the Election Commission of India and with powers to implement the orders.
However, P S Masilamani, state deputy secretary of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association, pointed out that the Kuruvai crop could not be cultivated with the quantum of water recommended for release.
“The state is already facing a severe drinking water shortage. The 9.2 TMC water fails to satisfy our needs. Nevertheless, the CWMA should also order the release of water due for the coming months,” he said.
Kakarai R Sukumaran, a farmer from Orathanadu, concurred with Masilamani and said, “Though Kuruvai paddy cannot be cultivated with this quantum of water. However, if the order is implemented, it would put an end to the uncertainty over the availability of water among farmers in the coming years.”
Reacting to the CWMA direction, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy expressed hope that the Karaikal region of the Union Territory would get 0.1 TMC water from the Cauvery river in June.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Narayanasamy said Puducherry Development Commissioner and Board member A Anbarasu attended the meeting in New Delhi, in which government secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala also took part.
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