Members of various farmers’ forums, organised under the umbrella of Joint Movement of Farmers’ Associations, observed a day-long fast here on Saturday in protest against Karnataka not releasing Tamil Nadu’s due share of water in the Cauvery river and to highlight other demands.
The protestors expressed concern over Karnataka’s continued refusal to release water in the Cauvery even as parts of Tamil Nadu were heading towards a drought-like situation. ‘Kuruvai’ cultivation had been affected in the Cauvery delta district in the past five years consecutively and the Centre should immediately intervene to ensure Karnataka released water in the Cauvery in time for ‘samba’ cultivation, they said. The Centre should immediately constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority to implement the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal, they demanded.
The movement also called upon the State government to extend the crop loan waiver to all farmers without restricting the benefit to small and marginal farmers as the entire farming community had been affected by failure of the monsoon. The State government should take steps to waive crop loans availed from nationalised banks too.
The Centre should also give up the move to hand over crop insurance to private companies, they demanded.
Kakkarai Sukumaran, vice-president of the movement, presided over the protest. P.K. Deivasigamani, president, Cauvery Dhanapalan and other farmers’ representatives took part in the fast.
