Ramadoss, the founder of BAMA, said that the government should arrange an alternative route for the farmers who are planning to cultivate Kurva.
In a social media post published by him in this regard, the water level of Mettur dam, which is the source of irrigation for the Cauvery irrigation districts, has decreased to 42 feet and the water reserve has decreased to 13 TMC.
As the water level of Mettur dam is not more than 90 feet and the water flow to the dam is not more than 15,000 cubic feet, it is impossible to release water from Mettur dam for irrigation. Therefore, there is no chance of opening the water on June 12 for Kuruvai cultivation this year. Southwest Monsoon started yesterday in Andaman Nicobar Islands. In Kerala and Karnataka, where the catchment areas of the Cauvery are located, the southwest monsoon will intensify only by the end of July.
So, even if water is coming to Mettur Dam, it is expected to be possible only by the end of July or beginning of August. Considering this, the expert committee has recommended to the Tamil Nadu government that the Mettur dam should be opened by August 15. So, what is the alternative for farmers who are planning to cultivate Kuru? The Tamil Nadu government should show that.
If Kuruva is cultivated before the first week of August, it can be harvested before the northeast monsoon. Late planting of Kuruva leaves the Kuruva crops vulnerable to damage due to North-East Monsoon rains. Considering all the above factors, encouraging the cultivation of kurva using ground water would be a viable and wise course of action. There is no doubt that Tamil Nadu Government’s Kurvai Synthesis Scheme will be very useful for Kurvai cultivation using ground water.
Kuruvaid Synthesis Project has been implemented in Tamilnadu for last 8 years. Uninterrupted three-phase electricity will be provided under the Kuruvai Synthesis Scheme for irrigation of ground water for Kuruvai crops. Apart from that, the Kurvaid Synthesis Scheme will be of great help to the farmers as subsidies for fertilizer, seeds, gypsum and micronutrients will also be provided. In the Cauvery irrigated districts, the three pulse crops of Kuruvai, Samba and Thaladi were severely affected last year due to lack of water.
Farmers can recover at least to some extent from last year’s losses only if Kurvai cultivation is done successfully this year. Keeping this in mind, the Tamil Nadu government should immediately announce the Kuruvaid collection scheme for the Cauvery irrigation districts. In particular, the Tamil Nadu government should ensure that 24-hour three-phase electricity is provided for agriculture in all areas. mentioned.
