Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu): Farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli district staged a protest on the banks of the Cauvery River, demanding the immediate release of water to safeguard irrigation and protect standing crops in the delta region.
The protesters entered the river and raised slogans, urging both the Central Government and the Karnataka Government to ensure the timely release of Cauvery water in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). Farmers alleged that the continued delay in releasing water has severely affected agricultural activities and placed thousands of acres of paddy cultivation at risk.
Representatives of various farmers’ organisations said the lack of adequate water has left crops vulnerable during the crucial cultivation season. They warned that prolonged delays could result in significant crop losses and financial hardship for farming families dependent on Cauvery irrigation.
The protest comes amid renewed tensions over the long-standing Cauvery water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Farmer groups have called on the authorities to implement the CWMA’s directives without further delay to prevent an agrarian crisis in the Cauvery delta.
According to local reports, the demonstration remained peaceful, with farmers reiterating that the timely release of water is essential to sustain agriculture and secure the livelihoods of thousands of cultivators across the delta districts.