Delta Collectors send distress signals

By Radha Venkatesan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 22. Even as the Cauvery River Authority meeting has been put off by ``three or four days'' because of political developments in Tamil Nadu, the delta districts have sent out distress signals.

The kuruvai crop on over 42,000 hectares will be totally damaged if 20,000 cusecs of water is not discharged from the Mettur reservoir daily over the next few weeks, the Collectors have informed the Government.

In their reports, the Collectors have called for immediate steps to augment the discharge from Mettur to save the withering kuruvai crop and for starting samba cultivation.

According to highly-placed sources here, the Collectors have said that the crop on only 4,060 hectares of the total 46,926 hectares under paddy in Tamil Nadu was harvested as on September 13. And, the remaining over 42,000 hectares will be totally damaged if sufficient water is not supplied.

As of now, the delta districts are receiving only 8,893 cusecs as against the required 20,000 cusecs. During September and October, the required discharge from Mettur for the kuruvai crop is about 23.976 tmcft, besides the expected rainfall.

``The kuruvai yield is likely to be badly affected in case the needed water is not supplied in due course'', according to the reports.

The samba cultivation also faces a similar threat as nurseries have been raised on only 3,024 hectares for want of water. Normally, nurseries are raised on about 8,960 hectares to cover 1.12 lakh hectares during the samba phase.

The sources said that even if sufficient water was released next week the kuruvai crop at a mature stage requiring just one or two more wettings for harvest could be saved.

With the crops drying up and the farmers' hopes fast receding, the Government has pressed the Centre for convening a meeting of the Authority within the next few days. Indications are it will be held in New Delhi within three or four days and the new Chief Minister, Mr. O. Paneerselvam, will participate.

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Section  : Southern States
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