Karnataka trying to spoil kuruvai: Ryots

TIRUCHY: Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association has charged that the Karnataka government was attempting to prevent farmers of Tamil Nadu from raising kuruvai crop, which was their lifeline. V Rajaram, working president, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, expressed concern over the headstrong attitude of the Karnataka government in releasing water in the Cauvery that could led to cascading effect in Tamil Nadu. Rajaram charged that the Karnataka government with making attempts at preventing the raising of kuruvai in Tamil Nadu since 1974. But the Cauvery Tribunal had upheld the rights of farmers of Tamil Nadu. “Yet, Karnataka continues to remain adamant and has depleted the storage in its dams by releasing water for summer irrigation,” he said. The Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association pledged its support to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s efforts to compel Karnataka to release water as per the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The association has however appealed to the CM not to arrive at a decision on opening the Mettur dam for irrigation in haste under the present circumstances.