Cauvery water shortage: Delta farmers walk out, demand drought-hit status
Farmers in the Cauvery delta region have urged the Tamil Nadu government to declare the area as drought-hit, citing the non-availability of surface water for irrigation and drinking water purposes. The demand was raised during the monthly agriculture grievance meeting chaired by District Collector R. Revathi here on Friday.
Participating in the meeting, farmers raised slogans in support of their demand and staged a walkout after condemning the Karnataka government for not releasing water. They specifically referred to the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) direction to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, which they said has not been complied with. The farmers urged the Centre to ensure that the CWRC's directive is executed by the Karnataka government. They also appealed to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to declare the delta region as drought-hit, considering the erratic monsoon and the continued non-release of water into the Cauvery.
The delta region, comprising districts such as Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and parts of Cuddalore, is traditionally known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. Paddy cultivation in this region is heavily dependent on the Cauvery river water. The current water scarcity has raised concerns among farmers about the upcoming cultivation season and drinking water availability in rural areas. Many farmers have reported that the standing paddy crop is showing signs of stress due to insufficient irrigation water.
In a separate demonstration, a group of farmers who took part in the walkout held posters condemning the release of untreated wastewater from a former private sugar mill at Thirumandankudi in Papanasam taluk. They alleged that wastewater from the distillery unit flows through irrigation drain channels, not only polluting surface water but also affecting groundwater quality. The farmers demanded that the authorities take action against those responsible for the pollution and ensure that only treated water is released.
Meanwhile, the Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam called on the Tamil Nadu government to impress upon the Central Government the crucial nature of the CWRC’s recent direction to the Karnataka government. Sangam general secretary P.R. Pandian, speaking in Tiruvarur on Friday, said the state government should present the prevailing water scarcity scenario for both paddy cultivation and drinking water in the delta region to the Union Government and elicit a positive response. He stressed that the release of water is essential to save the samba paddy cultivation in the delta districts.
The Cauvery water dispute is a long-standing inter-state issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The CWRC, constituted under the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, issues periodic directives for the release of water based on the availability in reservoirs. Non-compliance with these directives has frequently led to protests in the delta region. In recent weeks, farmers have held several demonstrations demanding strict enforcement of CWRC orders.
To declare a region as drought-hit, the state government typically assesses factors such as rainfall deficiency, water availability, and crop loss. Such a declaration enables farmers to access relief measures like compensation, loan waivers, and subsidized inputs. The district administration is yet to respond to the demand raised at the grievance meeting. Officials did not comment on the walkout or the farmers' demands.
