A dry spell along the Cauvery
A weak monsoon has left farmers on both sides of the Cauvery struggling with dwindling water supplies. In Karnataka, farmers are worried about irrigation even as the State faces pressure to release water to Tamil Nadu, where large tracts of paddy fields remain barren. The competing demands have sharpened tensions between the two States
A dry spell is affecting farmers in Karnataka's Cauvery basin, who have decided to sow water-intensive crops despite official warnings against it. Marilingaiah, a farmer from Kuntanahalli village, has invested ₹8,000 in raising paddy seedlings, but fears his efforts will be in vain if water does not reach his fields within the next 7-10 days.
The optimism of farmers was bolstered by a brief surge in monsoon rains in early August, but this has since receded. Other farmers are waiting for clearer signals before deciding what to plant, with some prepared to switch to rabi crops like ragi, pulses, or oilseeds if water becomes scarce. The issue of water sharing with neighboring Tamil Nadu adds to the farmers' worries, as Karnataka has already reduced its water release to Tamil Nadu's Mettur dam, prompting a legal battle.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu farmers are facing their own water crisis due to low storage at the Mettur dam and the Tamil Nadu government's refusal to open the dam for irrigation. Karnataka has released canal water in only four rotational cycles this season, aiming to conserve reservoir storage for other needs. However, this move has left many farmers with little water for their paddy and sugarcane crops.
The Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) are also urging for more water to be released to Tamil Nadu, adding to the distress for farmers in Karnataka.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
