Send direct petitions to SC: Farmers

THANJAVUR

Farmers associations are urging political parties and other organisations to send petitions directly to the Supreme Court urging it to take note of the failure of the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board as directed by the court.

“Let the political parties do their bit. But is it not our cause that everyone is talking about? Denial of the CMB impacts not just the farmers but all of Tamil Nadu population as we rely on River Cauvery for drinking water and even industrial purposes. Hence, we farmers request all political parties, professional bodies, civic organisations, civil societies, trade chambers and concerned individuals besides the political wannabes to send petitions directly to the Supreme Court urging it to take note of the contempt of its order by the Central Government. That would add sum and substance to the State’s plea,”said Mohanur G. Ajeethan, State Technical Adviser, Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations.

Cauvery provides drinking water to 19 districts while meeting the irrigation needs of 12 districts in the State. In one way or the other, it caters to an estimated five crore population in Tamil Nadu. This widespread reliance on Cauvery by the State populace needs to be highlighted to the Supreme Court. The best way to do that is despatch of pleas directly by the beneficiary bodies across the social spectrum to buttress the contempt plea against the Central Government, emphasised S. Dhanapalan, general secretary, Cauvery Farmers Protection Association.

Cauvery water is utilised not just by the delta farmers but is essential to keep numerous combined drinking water supply schemes and industrial houses running. Drinking water is pumped from Cauvery and its branches to even far off places such as Chennai and Ramanathapuram. Major public sector undertakings such as the Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited in Karur district, the BHEL and the HAPP in Tiruchi district as also massive private sector heavy industries rely on Cauvery water. Denial of the CMB and consequently adequate water affects their profitable functioning. The plea to act against the contemnor will get a big boost if those profiting from their existence including their workers welfare societies and civic institutions to send petitions directly to the Supreme Court, reasoned Swamimalai Vimalnathan, secretary, Cauvery Farmers Association.