Jayalalitha hits out at Karunanidhi remarks on kuruvai cultivation

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha today hit out at DMK chief M Karunanidhi on his demand to know what steps had been taken to address farmers' concerns due to bleak prospects of Kuruvai (short-term) crop cultivation, saying any decision would be based on the monsoon and availability of water in the Mettur dam.

"There is only 3.45 TMC of water in Mettur dam and based on rainfall received in Cauvery delta region, steps will be taken for cultivating kuruvai crop", she said in a statement.

Karunanidhi had recently said prospects of ensuing 'kuruvai' cultivation looked bleak in Tamil Nadu in the backdrop of drought in Cauvery delta and sought to know what steps government planned to take to address farmers' concerns.

He had said water should be released from Mettur Dam on June 12 as was the practice every year.

Jayalalithaa pointed out her government had been taking all steps to get Tamil Nadu's share in compliance with the notification of the final award of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.

"Soon after there is sufficient rainfall in Cauvery delta region, I reaffirm we will get our share of water" she said.

Noting that there was rainfall over the last few days in Cauvery delta regions, Jayalalithaa said steps were taken to cultivate kuruvai crops on one lakh acres "very soon".

She recalled her statement yesterday on moving the Supreme Court for immediate appointment of Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee in compliance with the tribunal's final award.

Upping the ante against Karnataka for its refusal to release Cauvery water, Jayalalithaa had said yesterday the state government would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court besides seeking a direction to set up two regulatory bodies to implement the Tribunal's final award.