Tamil Nadu farmers welcome SC order on Cauvery river water

Chennai, Sep 5: Expressing their happiness at the Supreme Court's order to Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu every day for next 10 days, farmers in the latter state hope this will be an interim order and the final order will give sufficient water for their crops, said a leader of farmer's association.

"We are happy at the Supreme Court's order. The total water release ordered for 10 days amounts to around 12 thousand million cubic (TMC) of water. Only when 25 TMC water is released there will be storage at Mettur Dam for release," S. Ranganathan, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association, told IANS.

He said it is possible for Karnataka to release 25 TMC of water so that it can cater to the need of crops till October.

"Before the close of September, we have to raise the crop," Ranganathan added.

He hoped the Tamil Nadu government would press strongly for more as the interim release will not be helpful.

"In order to have smooth release of water there should be Cauvery Management Board (CMB) but it may take time. Till CMB is set up there can be a committee headed by a judge with members from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This is address the issue and take decisions based on the availability of water," Ranganathan added.

IANS