Chennai: Irked over the recent Supreme Court order, TN farmers in consensus on Thursday urged the state government not to rely on court proceedings. The representatives of TN farmers associations who met Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami requested the state government to work on the formation of the Cauvery Management Board at the earliest.
Members of the farming community during their interaction with state top brass also opined that the Centre and the Supreme Court have done injustice to Delta farmers by decreasing the share of Cauvery water to TN. Admitting that some areas of Thanjavur and Nagapattinam are facing a shortage of water for samba crops, the farmers demanded political pressure on the BJP-led Centre.
President of the Desiya Thennindia Nadigal Inaiappu Vivasayigal Sangam P. Ayyakannu, who led a series farmers’ agitation in Delhi, said that the formation of Cauvery Water Management Board was the only solution for Delta farmers. “We have expressed our grievances to the state and have requested a high-level political representation from TN to the Prime Minister’s office”.
“CM Palaniswami heard our grievances and we want the state delegation to represent our case so that the Centre forms the Cauvery Management Board as per the court order. If Tamil Nadu is again left in the lurch and the board is not formed, we are ready to stage a series of protests against the Centre”, Ayyakannu told DC.
The farmers representing various associations had also appealed the state not to approach the courts at least for some weeks. “Till date, none of the Supreme Court order is implemented in letter and spirit and the neighbouring Karnataka has not shown any respect for the Court. Is this democracy?” wondered a farmers’ association leader of Delta wishing not to be quoted.
“The court had always dragged our issues, even as our crops were dying. We have lost faith in the judiciary and we also want the state not to rely on court proceedings for justice”, he added.
