Ryots waiting for meeting outcome

Protests may intensify if CRA decides against State, warn farmers

All farmers and residents of the district are waiting with fingers crossed for the outcome of the meeting of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) scheduled to be chaired by prime minister Manmohan Singh on September 19.

Following the state government’s admission before the Supreme Court, 10,000 cusecs of water is being let since September 12 to Tamil Nadu and people hope the flow of water would be stopped at least after the meeting is held. They fear, if more water is let, not only farming activities would suffer, but there would be scarcity of drinking water too.

As there is standing paddy and sugarcane crops, labourers are getting work now. If adequate water is not let in canals, even this crop would wither and life would become miserable for farmers and labourers. The effect would be on the overall economy, as the loss would run into hundreds of crores.

By September 15 last year, 234 TMC feet of water had flowed in Cauvery and its tributaries, but this year due to failed monsoon it has reached only 124 TMC feet. According to the interim order of the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal, the state should have let 108 TMC feet of water to Tamil Nadu by now. Despite drought situation prevailing in the state, 30 TMC feet of water has been let.

Members of the Jilla Raitha Hitharakshana Samithi feel that the onus is on the four Union ministers from the state to convince the prime minister about the scarcity of water facing the state and see to it that the authority decides favourably.

“The responsibility on external affairs minister S M Krishna is greater, as he belongs to the district and knows the problems of the farmers well,” a member said.

The samithi has already drawn the attention of the four ministers and the prime minister by writing letters. Various organisations and people from all sections of the society are extending support to the marathon protest demonstration staged by the samithi since September 10.

President of the samithi, ex-MP, G Madegowda said the people are suffering as the state government has already taken a wrong decision. “Now, there is a chance to undo the mistake. If the decision of the authority is not in the interest of the farmers of Mandya district, the ongoing protests would be intensified,” he added.

As the Bangalore-Mysore highway passes through Maddur, Mandya and Srirangapatna towns and many villages in the district, the protests are likely to affect vehicular traffic on the stretch of the road.