Chennai: The Supreme Court verdict is a consolation for Tamil Nadu farmers, who view it as a confirmation of the state’s right to share Cauvery water, besides a humanitarian gesture to protect the samba crop cultivation in the delta districts.
But, they want the Central government to quell the ‘illegal protests incited by Karnataka government against the Supreme Court’ and implementation of its verdict.
The present storage of Mettur reservoir is 74 feet, which is not sufficient to start the samba cultivation. But, the SC judgment had directed the convening of the supervisory committee meeting to decide the quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu and submit a report to the apex court, P.R. Pandian, co-ordinator of the federation of Tamil Nadu Farmers Unions, pointed out.
Hailing the Supreme Court for showing humanitarian concern to save the farmers in Tamil Nadu, he said Karnataka government itself had incited riots against the judgement of the highest court of the country. The government had incited Kannada chauvinist outfits and farmers unions in a planned manner to instigate violence against Tamils living in Karnataka, he said and added that it was being done to cite law and order as an excuse for not implementing the Supreme Court order. He felt that that the 'protests against the SC judgment is illegal' and Centre should send army to protect Tamils in Karnataka.
However, leaders of farmer unions including Sami Natarajan and Cauvery Rights Retrieval Committee leader P. Maniarasan expressed disappointment over the judgement as it not honoured the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
Tamil Nadu government had sought 50 tmc ft of water for completion of samba crop cultivation. If the 13 tmc ordered by the Supreme Court is released, it will argue in the supervisory committee to get the remaining 37 tmc of Cauvery water. Actually, 50 tmc of water is Tamil Nadu's share as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. Even, if Karnataka’s contention of lesser rainfall is accepted, a total of 35 tmc of water must be released for Tamil Nadu.
