Farmers in Tamil Nadu have welcomed the Supreme Court’s final verdict on ordering the formation of a Cauvery Water Management Board and norms for sharing of the Cauvery River water. Farmers’ representatives said political leaders in both States should accept the verdict and ensure compliance.

Opposition parties have expressed disappointment over the Apex Court reducing the allocation of water to Tamil Nadu. They strongly criticised the Tamil Nadu government for not representing the case adequately.

‘No ownership’

S Ranganathan, General Secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, a person closely associated with the issue since its early days, said it is significant that the Apex Court has recognised that “no individual State can claim ownership to the river water”. It has also ordered the creation of an independent Cauvery Water Management Board that will oversee sharing of the river water.

This is a welcome relief for the farmers in the Cauvery Delta, he felt. The 14 tmcft reduction in the quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu is not a major cause for worry, he said.

The Supreme Court in its final verdict on Friday allocated 177 tmcft, instead of the 192 tmcft awarded in the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. But Karnataka has so far refused to obey even the Tribunal’s order. The reduction works out to about 0.5 tmcft a month during the irrigation season and can be managed by water use efficiency, he said.

Ranganathan pointed out that Tamil Nadu had been forced to resort to Supreme Court’s intervention at every juncture because “Karnataka has consistently flouted all norms and successive governments at the Centre have intervened.” With a clear verdict in place all the stakeholders should comply and focus on best options. “Soil and water decides the crop” and Tamil Nadu should look at water-use efficiency and crop management, he said.

PR Pandian, President, Coordination Committee, All Tamil Nadu Farmers Associations, said it is now important to ensure release of Cauvery water to save the standing paddy crops in the Delta and ensure the Cauvery Water Management Board is formed to implement the equitable distribution of water.

Political leaders should not focus on the reduced allocation. Tamil Nadu government should not appeal against the order as it will only delay water release, he felt. The DMK Working President, MK Stalin, said it is shocking that the 192 tmcft allocated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal has been cut to 177 tmcft by the Supreme Court. This quantity has been diverted to Karnataka which has not complied by the order of the Tribunal or the Court on sharing the river water. Tamil Nadu had failed to strongly represent its case, he felt.

He urged the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to call for an all-party meeting, including farmers’ representatives.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President, S Thirunavukarasu, said the Centre and the State governments should at least ensure that Karnataka complies with the final order. The reduction in quantum of water to Tamil Nadu is a huge loss, he felt.

Actor-turned-politician, Kamal Haasan expressed concern over the reduced allocation of water but said both States should work together amicably. This issue should not be exploited for political mileage, he said.

Actor Rajinikanth said reducing the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu was “very disappointing” and urged the State government to file a review petition.