Thanjavur: Farmers await CWMA’s meeting outcome today

Thanjavur: Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting to be held at Delhi on Tuesday assumes importance in view of Kuruvai (short term crop) season to begin from June in Cauvery delta and quantum of water to be released from January to May and then from June onwards.

CWMA’s last meeting was held last year in the July. This is the second time when Authority will meet at Delhi. “Though belated, the meeting is timely now for delta as we require water," said P. Maniarasan, coordinator of the Cauvery Urimai Meetpu Kuzhu on Monday.

Farmers are awaiting CWMA's on water to be released for January to May. According to Maniarasan, Karnataka had to release 19.5 tmcft of water from December last to May 31 this year i.e. for January, February, March, April and May. For June, when cultivation year begins, Karnataka has to release 9.2 tmcft of water, while major quantum of water is to be released between June to August.

Supreme court's order stipulated that Tamil Nadu should get 177.25 tmcft of water every year on pro rata basis. Though this is less than the final award given by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, farmers though reluctantly, accepted it.

Now their expectation is that the Authority should ensure this amount of water.

“Authority can make a field assessment of water in Karnataka quickly and ensure that the due quantum of water is released so that farmers can take up Kuruvai for which water is released normally on June 12, traditional date of opening of Mettur dam. This year it seems that dam could not be opened on that date which means farmers have to skip kuruvai consecutively for eighth year. But if at least water is released from Karnataka late, there is a possibility of farmers taking up late kuruvai. Authority should ensure this. As per information we got, there is adequate water in four major dams of Krishnaraja Sagar, Hemavathi, Harangi and Kabini. Karnataka has filled up various lakes with water from dams. Authority should act swiftly and make Karnataka release water as per SC order" said Maniarasan.

There is no kuruvai in the canal irrigated areas in the delta for the past seven years. The crop is taken up only in pump-sets irrigated areas. "Authority should meet periodically and take stock of the situation. Already there is a long gap between its previous meeting and now. But the stipulation is that it should meet every ten days and take stock of the situation. At least  Water Regulation Committees of the Authority should meet regularly and take stock of the situation" said V.Jeevakumar, district vice president of AIKS.

Expectation among farmers of delta is effective functioning of the authority and setting up of office for water regulation committee at Bengaluru and appointment of full time chairman for the Authority.

At present Masood Hussain, the Chairman, of the Central Water Commission, is heading the Authority. The Water Regulation committee had met earlier on May 23 this year.