'Karaikal may suffer Rs.35-cr. crop loss'

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, OCT. 10. Pondicherry's Chief Minister, Mr. P. Shanmugham, highlighted the problems faced by the farmers in the Karaikal region lying in the tail-end of the Cauvery, at the third meeting of the Cauvery River Water Authority in New Delhi today.

The copy of his address was distributed to presspersons here.

He said that under the interim award, Karaikal was entitled to 4.025 tmc of Cauvery water between June and October. But it only received 1.854 tmc. The recent rain helped the farmers to some extent. The intrusion of brackish water rendered the deep borewells useless. Drinking water was also likely to be affected in the areas relying on the Araslar sources. The samba and thaladi crops were likely to be damaged in Karaikal. If the Mettur dam did not receive water, Karaikal would suffer crop loss to the tune of Rs. 35 crores.

Mr. Shanmugham wanted measures to ensure that the remaining 2.171 tmc was made available to Karaikal, and that there was a definite supply till January next year. He said the Tribunal stipulated that Karnataka supply 205 tmc to Tamil Nadu every year, and that Tamil Nadu supply 6 tmc to Karaikal.

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