Salem: The 14-member high-level technical committee visited Mettur and Bhavani Sagar reservoirs in downstream Tamil Nadu on Sunday, as directed by the Supreme Court to assess the water situation in the Cauvery river basin.
The team headed by G.S. Jha, chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC), constituted by the Supreme court, visited the two dams and studied the water level, inflow and discharge status.
After the visit, G S Jha, said, “the study was conducted following the order of the Supreme court and we have registered the data on water level, inflow and discharge. The demands and suggestions of the farmers of this region were also recorded.”
Earlier, the state PWD minister, Edappadi K Palanisamy submitted a detailed report on the impact and problems being experienced by the farmers in Tamil Nadu in the wake of the Cauvery issue this year.
The team members will also visit Thanjavur, Tiruchy and Tiruvarur and then submit their report to the Supreme court soon.
Meanwhile, farmers expressed the hope of positive measures being taken for releasing adequate water from Karnataka based on the report by the technical committee.
The chairman of the Joint Committee of Farmers Associations, P.R. Pandian, said, “Karnataka refuses to accept the Supreme court order for releasing Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu, which has been affected severely without water for irrigation. The arrival of the experts committee has created hope among the farmers and we expect its report to be final.”
