THANJAVUR: Even as the Supreme Court has given its final verdict on Cauvery on Friday, ground reality in the delta is that farmers are finding it difficult to sustain the standing samba crop for want of water.
While crops on 7000 hectares had withered in Thanjavur district, crops on another 20,000 hectares are under stress and need one or two wettings.
The requirement is 15 tmc of water for which Tamil Nadu government pleaded with Karnataka but in vain. “This is the reality for the past two decades in the delta. Whenever crop is in dire need of water, it will not come and we have to loose the crop. We could not take up Kuruvai, short term crop for the past six years for want of water. We are also not able to sustain samba crop fully as we face water crisis in the middle of cultivation. This year is no exception” said Veerasamy, a farmer from Budalur. What is the solution to save standing samba crop? Will Karnataka release water,” asked farmers.
With Cauvery issue prolonging for the past two decades and rain god also playing truant on many occasions, it is either total drought or slip from cup to lip for the farmers in the delta and most of the time they were in need of relief. “We hope that the final order of the Supreme Court on Cauvery and its effective implementation may change the scenario in the delta” said farmers.
Meanwhile members of 'Cauvery Urimai Meetpu Kuzhu' staged demonstration at Kumbakonam and Thanjavur protesting against Supreme court verdict on Cauvery stating that it is not acceptable toTamil Nadu and that injustice has been done to the state. Advocates staged a demonstration at Thanjavur protesting against the verdict.
Ranganathan welcomes SC verdict
The "Supreme court verdict on Cauvery is a "good verdict" and "acceptable" as "this is the best can the court could do in a difficult situation," said S. Ranganathan, veteran farmers leader and secretary of Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association on Friday.
He told DC over phone that the first welcoming feature of the verdict is that it said that "no state can own a river". Next is that, order to form Cauvery Management Board. "When once the board is formed, monitoring is easy and hence the order can be easily executed".
Without politicising the Cauvery issue, farmers should accept the order and if they have any views on any issues, they can assemble together and discuss.
Their views can be represented to the CMB or a review petition can be filed on the verdict. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not delay forming of CMB citing elections etc, it should be done as per the time stipulation by the court" Ranganathan added.
