Tiruchy, Oct 10:
Farmers in the Cauvery delta region have decided to stage a statewide protest on October 26, demanding that the Tamil Nadu government declare the region drought-hit and provide relief to farmers affected by water scarcity and crop losses.
The decision was taken at a state coordination meeting of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Association held at Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district on Friday. The meeting was chaired by the association’s state joint secretary, V Swaminathan, and discussed the impact of El Nino and the prevailing drought conditions in the delta region.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, association general secretary P R Pandian said the delta was experiencing severe drought conditions. Although water was released from the Mettur dam on September 1, it had not reached the branch rivers, tanks and lakes across the region, he said.
Pandian said crops raised through direct sowing had dried up after the seeds sprouted because of the shortage of water. The situation had been aggravated by poor rainfall during the southwest monsoon, leaving large parts of the delta facing severe agricultural distress, he added.
He urged the State government to declare the delta drought-hit and initiate the process of providing compensation to affected farmers. He also demanded an unconditional waiver of crop loans and compensation for farmers who had suffered losses in kuruvai cultivation.
Pandian further called on the government to take immediate steps to secure Tamil Nadu’s due share of Cauvery water from Karnataka to ensure that farmers could undertake samba cultivation.
As part of the October 26 agitation, farmers from Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore districts will lay siege to their respective district collectorates, Pandian said. Several thousand farmers from across Tamil Nadu are expected to participate in the statewide protest.