Chennai, August 29: The Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the CPI(M), P. Shan Mugam, has called on the state government to release water from the Mettur Dam for a minimum of 120 to 150 days to support farmers in the Cauvery Delta region in cultivating Samba rice.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Shan Mugam noted that the announcement by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay regarding the release of water from the Mettur reservoir provided some relief to farmers. However, the statement from the Water Resources Minister indicating that water would only be released for 45 days has caused confusion and concern among the farming community.
He emphasized that a water supply of just 45 days is insufficient for successful rice cultivation. A consistent supply of water for 120 to 150 days is essential for Samba rice farming. With the water level in the Mettur Dam expected to reach 90 feet, the government must take appropriate measures to ensure adequate water throughout the Samba rice season.
Shan Mugam also accused the Karnataka government of failing to release Tamil Nadu‘s rightful share of water from the Cauvery River each month, as mandated by the Supreme Court. He claimed that Karnataka only releases additional water when its reservoirs are full. He urged the Tamil Nadu government to file a petition in the Supreme Court to pressure the central government to ensure the state receives its fair share of Cauvery water.
Responding to questions about the proposed Parandur Airport project and the airport in Hosur, Shan Mugam stated that fertile agricultural land capable of producing three crops should not be acquired for infrastructure projects. He pointed out that Tamil Nadu has over 500,000 acres of barren or unusable land, and the government should identify such areas for development projects instead of acquiring agricultural land.
He criticized Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan’s suggestion to acquire agricultural land, calling it inappropriate and stating that it has caused significant discontent among farmers.
The CPI(M) leader also mentioned an order directing the monitoring of protests organized by left-affiliated student and youth organizations on college campuses. He held the Chief Secretary fully responsible for issuing this order and stated that he has written to Chief Minister Vijay demanding appropriate action. He further noted that the party will await the government’s response to their complaints.
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