Delta farmers have made an appeal to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to withdraw its suggestion for formation of a tribunal to decide on Karnataka’s proposal to build a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu.

A resolution to this effect was passed at the ‘Drought Conference’ organised by the Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam at Tiruvarur on Saturday, wherein the Sangam called upon the DMK to give up this suggestion, which formed part of the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and the Adjournment Motion moved by the DMK MPs in Parliament, recently.

While making this appeal to the DMK, the association exhorted the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led State government to take steps to get Cauvery water released by the Karnataka government as per the Supreme Court order in the tribunal award case for taking up ‘samba’ cultivation in delta districts.

Passing a resolution thanking the Tamil Nadu government for forming an expert committee to asses the impact of El Nino on agriculture operations, the association sought initiation of legal steps to halt Karnataka from going ahead with its plan to build a dam at Mekedatu. It urged the government to provide subsidy for diesel to enable farmers take up ‘samba’ cultivation preparatory work and ₹35,000 per acre – ₹15,000 per acre for the loss of ‘kuruvai’ crop and ₹20,000 per acre as incentive for taking up ‘samba’ cultivation – to delta farmers.

Resolutions seeking total waiver of crop loans taken from cooperatives and suspension of crop loan recovery process, extension of ₹5,000 per family to agriculture labourers, desilting/restoration of waterbodies and irrigation channels were passed at the conference attended by Mannargudi MLA S. Kamaraj, educationists, government officials, retired agriculture department officials and progressive farmers.

Published - August 01, 2026 06:02 pm IST