Farmers' association demand prompt release of Cauvery water

Demanding immediate release of 46 tmc Cauvery waters from Karnataka, a collective of farmers' associations in Tamil Nadu observed a fast here today.
"We want the Centre to immediately constitute the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority to ensure that Tamil Nadu receives its share of water from Karnataka," P R Pandian of the Coordinating Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu told PTI.
Pandian demanded that Karnataka immediately released 46 tmc water and that efforts of Karnataka to build new dams like Mekedatu be stopped.
Blaming the Centre, he said the Centre's 'attitude' in a way was helping Karnataka's attempt to build new dams and scuttling supply of Cauvery waters.

Also, the farmers' body said it would hold a human chain protest in Delhi on December 14 over the Cauvery issue.
"We urge the Tamil Nadu government to convene an all-party meeting over the Cauvery issue. Our December 14 protest is to attract the attention of the apathetic Central government to the plight of Delta farmers," he said.

DMK, Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Tamil Maanila Congress and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi supported the stir and leaders of such parties participated in the fast.
Last month, Tamil Nadu had moved Supreme Court to direct Karnataka government to immediately release 45.327 tmc of Cauvery water from its reservoirs.

The government had contended that this quantum was the cumulative shortfall as on September 30 at Billigundulu as per the final order of February 5, 2007 of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
It had also urged the court to direct the Supervisory Committee to monitor and ensure release of water.