The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Farmers plan Statewide agitation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Farmers plan Statewide agitation

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 29. The Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangam, in coordination with other agriculturist unions, will launch a Statewide agitation demanding adequate release of Cauvery water by Karnataka.

The general secretary, K. Balakrishnan, yesterday said the present discharge was only the surplus from the Kabini reservoir and Karnataka had not released water from Krishnaraja Sagar. As delta farmers required at least 110 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) for raising the kuruvai crop, he demanded that the Prime Minister convene the Cauvery River Authority early to force Karnataka release the required quantity to Tamil Nadu.

At the same time, Mr. Balakrishnan told newsmen here, the State Government should not evade its responsibility and take early steps for getting water. The delta farmers had lost their crops in three successive years and if the trend continued this year, it would spell doom on their lives. The State should waive not only interest and penal interest but also the principal of crop loans.

Criticising the State Government for its alleged anti-farmer attitude, Mr. Balakrishnan said despite knowing that the State was reeling under severe drought conditions, it increased land tax and issued eviction notice to farmers who had not paid rent arrears. Apart from waiving the rent arrears, the Government should wind up revenue courts, which had been set up to speed up collection, he urged.

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