The Hindu Business Line : TN farmers demand permanent solution for Cauvery tangle

FARMERS' representatives, in separate memorandums submitted to the Central Drought Inspection Team, have highlighted the need for a permanent solution to the Cauvery dispute. The team visited Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts, near here on Saturday.

Mr K. Renganathan, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, in his memorandum, has pointed out that the consistent refusal by Karnataka to release water, in spite of several directions by the Supreme Court and the Cauvery River Authority had hit the farmers hard in the past couple of years.

During the current season, the supply has been discontinuous and affected even the ground water source.

Mr Arupathi Kalyanam, General Secretary, the Federation of Farmers Associations in Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur Districts, in his memorandum, has pointed out that monsoon was only a supportive source and release of water from Mettur played a key role in the cultivation.

Mr S.K.G. Gridharan, President, Thamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, in his representation, emphasised the need to resolve the Cauvery issue benefiting farmers in both the States

Mr S. Ramamuthry Varma, Vice-President, Nagapattinam District Farmers Welfare Association, in his representation has demanded that the Chairman of CRA should ensure implicit adherence by Karnataka of the interim award during the southwest monsoon.

Mr G. Palanichamy, Thiruthuraipoondi MLA, in his memorandum, has pointed out that samba crop, raised in about 8 lakh hectares had withered due to non-availability of water

According to Mr K. Manoharan, member of the visiting team, the crop loss in the region has been severe and the drinking water availability has even been affected.

Farmers had expressed their inability to raise alternative crops as they depended on surface water for irrigation and groundwater turned saline in several places, he added.