Chennai: In a bid to draw attention to their plight, farmers in Tamil Nadu are gearing up for a mass protest scheduled for September 20 in eight districts. These districts include Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Tiruchi, Ariyalur, and Pudukottai, all situated within the Cauvery delta region of the state.
The protest is in response to the alarming situation faced by farmers as the Kuruvai paddy crops spanning thousands of acres in the delta districts have withered away due to insufficient water supply. This unfortunate circumstance has left farmers hesitant to venture into cultivating Samba paddy, as the current water flow from the Cauvery River is inadequate to sustain paddy cultivation.
Expressing his concerns, R. Manickyam, a farmer from Thanjavur, often referred to as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, emphasized, “Karnataka has not yet released the promised water to Tamil Nadu, and we are bearing the brunt of it. Countless acres of Kuruvai paddy have wilted due to the water shortage. Furthermore, farmers are apprehensive about entering into the next phase of Samba paddy cultivation, given the uncertainty surrounding the release of Cauvery water by Karnataka. It is the duty of the Tamil Nadu government to keep us informed on this matter.”
P. Shanmugham, President of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, expressed his dismay at the ongoing water dispute. He pointed out that since the start of June, Karnataka has not adhered to the monthly water release schedule, despite directives from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Supreme Court. Shanmugham also highlighted that political parties in Karnataka continue to protest against releasing water to Tamil Nadu, exacerbating the tensions surrounding the issue.
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