JOIN USThe constitution of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has turned into a headache for the farmers of the district who are waiting for water to save standing crops.
After the Centre constituted CWMA, the state government has to submit a report to the Cauvery River Authority. An expert team would then conduct a study. Based on the expert team report a decision would be taken on the water release to the canal and the quantum of a release thereon. By the time the decision is made, acres of standing crops in Mandya district will wilt.
It may be recalled that the Centre constituted CWMA 10 months ago following the Supreme Court’s direction. This was opposed by Karnataka.
Rotation basis
Earlier, the Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) would take decisions on releasing water on a rotation basis. But now, the state government has lost the authority to release water into the canal. Farmers are pleading officials to release water into canals.
As pre-monsoon was delayed, Mandya farmers are in dire need of water to save sugarcane, paddy and ragi standing crops.
Helpless
Neither state government nor ICC has the power to take a decision in this regard now. As per CWMA directives, if the water is to be released, it must be discussed and a decision should be taken by the Water Management Committees of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.
Water will be released only after a report is submitted citing water shortage. This is followed by a study by an expert team. By the time all these procedures are completed, farmers would have lost their standing crop. Even elected representatives are expressing their helplessness in the matter.
Farmer leader B Bommegowda said: “Water should be released immediately to save standing crops. The government should find a solution to the technicalities hindering the release of Cauvery water. The failure of the government to address the issue has irked farmers,” he alleged.
Complaint to EC
Cauvery Neeravari Nigam had released water during the Lok Sabha elections-2019, yielding to political pressure. A complaint was lodged with the Election Commission against the Nigam for releasing water without permission from the water management committee. An official said: “A report has already been submitted to the Committee explaining the need to release water for standing crops. There is a possibility of convening a meeting on May 29. The meeting will decide the future course of action”.