Cauvery row: Tamil farmers 'disappointed', ask more water

Hours after the Cauvery Supervisory Committee ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs water per day to Tamil Nadu, farmers in the state expressed disappointment over the "insufficient" quantum, even as political parties flayed it on similar grounds.

 

President of the Tamil Nadu All Farmers' Federations, PR Pandian, said the order was "disappointing."

 

"The quantum of water that has been ordered for release will not at all be sufficient even for preparatory works for Samba crop," he told PTI.

 

He said the methodology adopted by the Committee in arriving at the quantum of water to be released "not correct."

 

Urging the Committee to go for a "field assessment in both the states," he said only then would the authorities be able to gauge the situation of farmers in Tamil Nadu.

 

After carrying out such an exercise, he said the Committee should pass an order to fulfil the needs of farmers.

 

Overruling differences between the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery Supervisory Committee had earlier in the day ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs water per day to Tamil Nadu between September 21 and September 30.

 

Referring to the order, PMK chief Ramadoss said,"this is an injustice for Tamil Nadu in the name of justice," adding the order will be of "no use" to Tamil Nadu farmers.

 

He said the supply of 3000 cusecs of water for ten days will be only around 2.60 TMC feet and "it will not suffice even the water needs of farmers for two days."

 

As 64.70 TMC feet of water inflow to Tamil Nadu remained pending from Karnataka as on September 5 as per the Final Award of the Cauvery Tribunal, Tamil Nadu approached the Committee seeking a directive for the release of such deficit water, he said.

 

He urged the Centre to immediately constitute a Cauvery Management Board and a Cauvery Regulatory Authority.

 

Two days ago, Leader of Opposition and DMK treasurer MK Stalin had said that the MPs of AIADMK should resign if the CMB and CRA were not set up.

 

Tamil Manila Congress (Moopanar) chief G K Vasan said though the quantum of water that the Committee has ordered is "not sufficient, Karnataka should implement it considering the welfare of Cauvery Delta farmers."

 

He said Karnataka should implement orders on the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and protect India's unity and foster a good relationship between the two states.