The Hindu : Focus shifts from water release

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 26, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Focus shifts from water release

By V.Jayanth

CHENNAI June 25. The crisis over the Cauvery is far from over. The political aspect may have just begun and it is too early to predict what course it will take. But the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's visit to Thanjavur on Monday and the announcement of a Rs. 164-crore package for relief and employment generation works has certainly turned the focus from water release to providing succour to the agricultural labour.

Though the kuruvai crop has been skipped several years owing to poor water storage in the Mettur reservoir during the season, this is perhaps the largest-ever relief package granted for the districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. But it is certain to trigger demands from affected ryots and agricultural workers in neighbouring Tiruchi and Cuddalore.

There was opposition from the farmers and political parties to the government decision to approach the Supreme Court again and boycott the Cauvery River Authority as well as its monitoring committee. Under these circumstances, it was not considered wise for the Chief Minister to meet farmers' groups during her Thanjavur visit. Consequently, the entire focus was on the labour and the plight of the small and marginal farmers.

Political parties took a political view of the package and dubbed it an ``eyewash''. They said the exercise was only dovetailing of Centrally-funded employment generation schemes and nothing more. But farmer associations have by and large welcomed the relief measures. According to S. Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, the dropping of distraint proceedings, taking up of desilting works and laying of link roads are ``welcome features'' He suggested that the Government also work on rescheduling loans and helping the genuine farmers who could not repay pending loans in one lumpsum. Waiver of cooperative loans was a ``window-dressing'' effort in many cases because many farmers had availed themselves of new loans only to repay old ones.

According to the delta farmers, the kuruvai and samba together provided about 150 days of employment to the labourers. With no kuruvai this year, at least 50 days of employment was lost. This was sought to be made good by the schemes now announced by the Government. However, fears have also been raised of a precedent being set — just as political parties start demanding writing off of loans when a drought is imminent, they could start asking for such packages in future.

There was considerable relief among official circles, with the shift in focus from release of water to the relief package. They knew that funds release had to be tied up swiftly without giving room for complaints. Many of these schemes were also Centrally-sponsored, while others were be linked to on-going programmes. Some schemes would be applicable only to landless labourers and not even marginal farmers, officials said.

In a way, the absence of a kuruvai crop came as a blessing in disguise to the authorities, especially in the Civil Supplies department.

They could avoid another crisis on the procurement front as they are already burdened with an `excess stock' built up last year. They were also hoping that farmers and agricultural scientists could utilise this crisis to review the cropping pattern. They suggested that farmers be encouraged to diversify into some cash crops and reduce dependence on rice.

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