The Hindu : Don't pre-empt water release, delta ryots tell Karnataka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Don't pre-empt water release, delta ryots tell Karnataka

By G. Srinivasan

Thanjavur Aug. 26. Now is the time for Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, in a good will gesture, instead of pleading inability, say farmers of the delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.

Expressing disappointment at the outcome of yesterday's all-party meeting, in Bangalore, after which some parties took a rigid stand against releasing water, and the reported decision of Karnataka to plead its inability before the Cauvery River Authority, scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Tuesday, the farmers said it should not try to pre-empt any move for releasing water.

S. Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said there was absolutely no chance for raising paddy hereafter in Karnataka, where the season was over.

It might require a little water for dry crops such as jowar and bajra.

On the other hand, Tamil Nadu, which had the benefit of the northeast monsoon to sustain samba, should be helped by Karnataka releasing water for raising the crop in the next two months.

Dam water is required for initial preparations.

Even for direct sowing water was required. An acute drinking water scarcity was also felt in the delta districts.

Keeping these factors in mind and seeing reason, Karnataka should help Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister and CRA Chairman, Atal Behari Vajpayee, should also see the reasonableness of the Tamil Nadu prayer and instruct Karnataka to release water.

Chandrakumar, secretary, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Employees Union, said the views expressed by Karnataka need not be taken as unanimous.

In fact, the Chief Minister, S. M. Krishna, was non-committal and refused to divulge the stand to be taken at the CRA meeting.

However, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, should also have convened an all-party meeting.

Mr. Chandrakumar also said the kidnapping of a former Karnataka Minister by the Veerappan gang should not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere.

Condemning the incident, he said people of the two States should maintain the peace and treat the two issues separately.

Picketing for relief

Meanwhile, about 355 members of the All-India Kisan Sangh and the All-India Agriculture Workers Association, affiliated to the CPI (M) were arrested when they tried to picket government offices at eight places in this district— Thanjavur, Budalur, Ammapettai, Papanasam, Naducauvery, Orathanadu,Madukkur and Kumbakonam.

Their demands are sanction of Rs. 3,500 an acre as relief to farmers and Rs. 750 per month towards family protection to farm labourers and supply of two kg of rice a day to every family of farm labourers, affected by non-cultivation of kuruvai.

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