Delta facing another poor Kuruvai season?

THANJAVUR: With June 12, the traditional date of opening of Mettur dam for Kuruvai (short-term paddy) cultivation fast approaching, farmers of the Cauvery delta districts are keeping their fingers crossed over whether they can take up ‘Kuruvai’ crop this year or not.

“We skipped kuruvai for the past eight years for want of Mettur water in canal irrigated areas. At least this year we want to take up kuruvai. Tamil Nadu government should spell out clearly whether there will be Kuruvai this year or not,” Kakkarai Sukumar, Vice-President of Thamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangangalin Koottiyakkam told DC over phone on Monday.

He also expressed concern over Cauvery Management Authority not holding its meeting for the past six months. The Authority should meet and instruct Karnataka to release water on pro-rata basis as per the SC order.

Sami Nadarajan, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam said that from January to May, nearly 19 tmcft of water should have been released by Karnataka as per court order. But no water has reached Mettur dam, he alleged.

S. Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said that water level stood at only 51-ft at Mettur dam on Monday. "We can open Mettur dam for Kuruvai crop irrigation when the water level reaches 85-ft to 90-ft. If only Southwest monsoon brings copious showers, can we think of Kuruvai this year," Ranganathan said.

Regarding 'Cauvery Management Authority' meeting, Ranganathan said that there is no point in talking about Authority's meeting during election time.  
"When the new government takes over, everything will be all right," he said.

Meanwhile, farmers of pump-set irrigated areas have started Kuruvai cultivation in some areas. Agriculture department officials said that every year Kuruvai is taken up on 25,000 hectares in pump-set irrigated areas in Thanjavur district. “This year also we hope to cover this area,” they added.