“Build barrages across rivers to prevent excess water draining into sea”
TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi District Cauvery Delta Farmers Association and farmers’ associations of the Amaravathy, Bhavani and Noyyal rivers have urged the State Government to constitute a Cauvery Mahanadhi Water Authority to explore ways of optimum utilisation of water and prevent wastage.
At a meeting held at the Upper Anaicut, they asked the government to build barrages and bed regulators, wherever possible, on the Cauvery, Coleroon, Amaravathy, Bhavani and Noyyal to prevent excess water draining into the sea during the monsoon and help in effective utilisation of 225 tmc of rainwater.
A resolution adopted condemned Karnataka’s opposition to the schemes formulated by Tamil Nadu for better water management in the Cauvery basin. Karnataka had no right to reduce the State’s share of Cauvery water citing that a portion of water was flowing into the sea. The Government should go ahead with the Cauvery modernisation programme with World Bank assistance.
Poll boycott
The associations threatened to boycott elections, if the modernisation programme was not implemented without further delay. Otherwise, agriculture would become unviable. They also resolved to send their members to study the proposals evolved by the Government for the Cauvery basin modernisation. They would point out omissions, if any, and make suggestions to the Government.
The Government should also constitute a body to oversee the distribution of Tamil Nadu’s quantum of Cauvery water. Farmers traditionally raising banana and other cash crops should get adequate water. The Government should ensure that the interests of these farmers were not neglected.
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