The four-member technical team of the Central Water Commission (CWC) headed by RK Gupta, Chief Engineer,(Irrigation Management Organisation), accompanied by Tiruvarur Collector C Natarajan, inspected paddy fields here on Saturday.
Beginning their inspection on Saturday at Karvakulam in the district, the team inspected barren lands where direct sowing of paddy was done.
Speaking to Express, Banumathy a small-time farmer said, “This has been a tough year for farmers in our village. No farmer is able to make profits.” Another farmer Shanmugasundaram said, “Already, we have lost Kuruvai and cannot afford to lose samba crop also.”
Submitting a petition to the CWC team, Mannargudi S Ranganathan, Secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, said, “We need 1.5-tmc of water for one wetting, but considering the dry spell and need for irrigation for direct sowing, we are demanding over 2 tmc.” Farmers would be able to manage once the NE monsoon begins, he added.
Later, the team visited Mazhavarayanallur, Karuppukilar and Sangendhi, inspecting the fields. “Despite ambitious planning for implementation of community nursery and CM’s special package, ryots are affected,” said Murugesan, a farmer who opted for community nursery near Karuppukilar.
Addressing presspersons in Komal village, panel member K Manoharan, Director, Directorate of Tobacco Development, Department of Agriculture and Cooperatives said, “The expert team would complete its tour in Tiruvarur district on Saturday, and would be visiting Nagapattinam and parts of Cuddalore district.”
The assessment and demand for water with inputs from farmers would be placed for a discussion slated to be held at the Secretariat at Chennai, on Monday. Later, the team would submit its report to the Centre, added Manoharan. Speaking to Express, Mayilvahanan, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Tiruvarur district said, “The team reviewed around 6,000 hectares during its 15-point tour across Tiruvarur district. So far, around 67,593 hectares of land has been brought under direct sowing for Samba cultivation, and around 2,660 acres of land under the community nursery scheme.”
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