Thanjavur: Farmers of Cauvery delta districts have expressed “dissatisfaction” over the draft management scheme presented by the centre to supreme court on Cauvery on Monday.
The draft scheme does not reflect the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) with full powers and autonomy as envisaged in the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) based on whose final award, the supreme court has given its final order on Cauvery, said many of them.
Mr. S. Ranganathan, secretary, 'Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association' said that it appears that powers have been watered down in the draft scheme from what was envisaged by the Tribunal.
“They have appointed ten members- out of whom four will be from riparian states and another four will be from non-riparian states. But the number of members envisaged in the CMB-like mechanism by the Tribunal was only four. A careful study of what has been presented to the court raise doubts in the minds of farmers whether the draft scheme provides for an all powerful, autonomous body.
The draft should be discussed threadbare among farmers and their suggestions incorporated in the reply to be given to the apex court. All party meeting should discuss the draft scheme,” he told DC over phone from Mannargudi.
Mr. P.R. Pandian, coordinator of the 'Thamizhaga Anaithu Vivasaya Sangangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu' said that the scheme does not provide for an autonomous all powerful body. “The scheme says that reservoirs in both states will be in the control of the State governments. The ten-member body will only supervise the flows. At times of water release it should consult State governments on taking decisions on water release…This is the crux of the issue. What we need is an independent body,” Pandian said.
Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary, 'Thanjai District Cauvery Farmers Protection Association' said that what we need is a board on the lines of Bakra-Beas Mangement Board and such boards for Narmada, Krishna and Godavari rivers. They have been functioning without any problem ever since they were formed. “Why centre is trying to introduce a new scheme for Cauvery is not known”, he said.
Though Centre has kept up its promise this time and submitted a draft scheme in the apex court on Monday, farmers of the delta, who are eager to take up short-term crop of 'Kuruvai' this year, feel that this is not the final they wanted. They are hopeful that a body with all powers will be in place after views are expressed on this draft scheme and that it would pave way for releasing water for 'Kuruvai', which they have not taken up for the past six years in canal irrigated areas. But the ground reality is the storage at Mettur is not sufficient to open the dam on June 12, traditional date for releasing water for Kuruvai this year.
Water level at the dam stood at 34.23 ft on Monday and the storage was 9.30 tmcft. Inflow into the dam was meagre 555 cusecs and the discharge was 2,000 cusecs for drinking water purpose. Only when water level reaches 85-ft to 90-ft can the dam be opened for cultivation sans any risk.
When once Southwest monsoon picks up and storage improves and if a body with full powers is in place by then, farmers hope to start a good cultivation year with 'Kuruvai' this year even if the dam is opened late.
Awards of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
Interim Award 1991-quantum of water allotted for Tamil Nadu-205 tmc
Final Award 2007--quantum of water allotted for Tamil Nadu 192 tmc
Final award gazetted in 2013
Supreme court's order on Cauvery February 16, 2018-quantum of water allotted 177.25 tmc for TN.
