Summary:
more-inThough it is still a bit early to commence samba paddy cultivation, the copious inflow into the Mettur reservoir has raised hopes of a bountiful harvest among farmers of the Cauvery delta this year. “The conditions are favourable this year for a single crop in the 15 lakh acres downstream Mettur which are dependent on the Cauvery water for irrigation. It is important that Karnataka releases the unutilised water of the Kabini Sub Basin (21 tmc) in addition to the share of Tamil Nadu. It would have been ideal if the opening of the dam had been pushed to the end of July,” observed Mannargudi S.Ranganathan, General Secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association. “Karnataka is releasing only the surplus flow and this should not be taken in to account of monthly releases as stipulated by the Cauvery Tribunal and the Supreme Court of India..