State ryots hail CWMA directive to Karnataka

Thanjavur: The first meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) held at Delhi on Monday  brought cheers to Tamil Nadu famers.

Order issued by the authority after four hours of the meeting to release 31.24 tmcft of water for July after adjusting the released water by the Authority to Karnataka has been welcomed by the farmers of the Cauvery delta districts.

The CWMA, created for implementing the final order of the Supreme court in the Cauvery issue is functioning and has delivered, said S.Ranganathan, secretary of the  Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association. Although we welcome the order, we have to see what it means of adjusting water released, he said.

“My stand has been that surplus also should be shared on a pro rata basis like deficit. Monsoon is normal this year and surplus water is released. But it should be shared on a pro-rata basis” said Ranganathan.

With the authority calling for a meeting of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on July 5, farmers hope water is expected to flow from Karnataka as ordered by the authority.

Welcoming the order Sami Nadarajan, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to CPI said that water level at Mettur dam will go up if 31.24 tmcft of water is released. “Water level at Mettur dam stood at 60.7 ft on Monday evening. Inflow was 11,614 cusecs. If 31.24 tmcft is released, the level will go up by another 30 ft and touch 90 ft which is the comfortable level for opening the dam for cultivation. We hope that we may take a late Kuruvai (short term) and a successful samba this year” said Sami Nadarajan.

Tamil Nadu Senior Agro Technocrats Association has also welcomed the order of the Authority to Karnataka to release 31.24 tmcft of water for July. 

V.Palaniappan of the association which sends report on opening of Mettur dam every year for cultivation to state government said that the water released by Karnataka should be stored and used for taking one successful samba crop by releasing it in August. If it is released for late kuruvai, water will be frittered away, he said.

Farmers are happy that CWMA is functional and pin their hopes on the Authority for smooth implementation of the order of supreme court on Cauvery. “A new era has begun" said some farmers with the vexatious Cauvery issue that dragged on for nearly 50 years ending with the formation of the Authority.

“We need not discuss whether Karnataka will release water or not. Authority has issued orders and Authority chairman Masood Hussain should ensure that all states help in implementing its order. Any violation should be brought to the notice of apex court by Hussain as it amounts to contempt of court” said P.R.Pandian, Co-ordinator of Thamizhaga Anaithu Vivasaya Sangangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu.

PWD engineers have started renovation and repair  works at Grand Anicut in Thanjavur district as they expect that water may be released from Mettur dam soon. It will take three days for water to reach Grand Anicut from Mettur after it was released, and from Grand Anicut it will be released into Grand Anicut canal, Cauvery, Vennar and Kollidam systems for irrigation.