KARAIKAL: Farmers in the Karaikal region, on Monday, welcomed the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal for releasing seven tmcft of water for irrigation to Karaikal region.

S.P. Selvashanmugam, president of the Puducherry Cauvery Delta Farmers Legal Action Committee and convener of Karaikal Struggle Group, urged the Puducherry Government to enter into a separate agreement with the Tamil Nadu Government about the time and quantity of the water to be released for the region. The region, which has cultivatable lands of 30,000 acres, is getting Cauvery water through seven rivers — Nandalar, Nattar, Vanchiyar, Noolar, Arasalar, Thirumalairajanar and Piravadaiyanar — the tributaries of Cauvery that conglomerate in the sea here. He said that, out of the 30,000 acres, nearly 20,000 acres were raised with the short-term kuruvai paddy crop till 1980.

Subsequent to the Cauvery dispute, kuruvai crop was abandoned. Samba paddy cultivation was only being carried out with the help of northeast monsoon. Now, the farmers in Karaikal region are happy about the final award of the tribunal against its demand of nine tmcft by the Puducherry Government.

To start the kuruvai and samba paddy cultivation in time, 75 per cent of the awarded water should be supplied between June and middle of October for the region every year, he said.

Both the Puducherry and Tamil Nadu Governments to constitute inter-State committee to ensure the water supply. Further, the Puducherry Government should convene a meeting of leaders of various farmers associations in Karaikal region in the presence of District Collector to ascertain their views about sharing the water in the region.

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