Karunanidhi takes up Cauvery issue

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Chennai: DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday asked what steps the state proposed to take to address farmers’ concern.
Recalling Karnataka CN Siddaramiah’s statement that he would seek a review of the 2007 final award of the Cauvery tribunal, Mr Karunanidhi contested it and said the five year period should be calculated from the date of notification of the award (Feb. 2013) and not the year the verdict was passed.
Mr Siddaramiah, on June 6, contended that the 2007 award of the tribunal had stated that after five years, the required amendment could be made by reviewing the quantum of water to be released every month.
Mr Karun­a­nidhi soug­ht to know if the state government would tell the farmers in delta districts if water would be available for Kuruvai cultivation and therefore give advice to farmers. Mr Karuna­nidhi pointed out that paddy acreage even reduced to 50,000 hecta­res, against the usual 1.2 lakh hectares last year and plans to raise kuruvai using ground water in 60,000 hectares was affected owing to failure in providing the farmers three phase electricity supply.