Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday appealed to farmers in delta districts not to take any extreme step due to the shortage of water to save the Samba crop, since she would always stand by them as a protective shield.
“Even if Nature fails, Karnataka betrays, Centre ignores Tamil Nadu, my government will stand by the farmers as a protecting shield. I will not tolerate the sufferings of farmers on account of these reasons. My government has taken all steps to save the standing Samba crops. Even if there is any loss of crop, the farmers will be appropriately compensated. As such, the farmers need not have any fear or worry. I appeal to them not take any extreme step,” she said in a statement on the prevailing situation in the delta areas.
Jayalalithaa said she was aware of the worries of the farmers on whether they would be able to save the Samba crops since the north-east monsoon has failed in December and the release of water from Mettur has been stopped due to Karnataka’s failure to release water.
“The petition filed by Tamil Nadu government before the Supreme Court seeking directions to Karnataka to release at least 18 tmcft of water is coming up for hearing on January 4, 2013, and I hope the apex court would give its verdict in favour of Tamil Nadu,” she said.
Jayalalithaa promised the farmers that supply of three-phase power to them would continue till the end of the Samba season. “By this step and by following other strategies, I hope a maximum extent of Samba crops would be saved. I reiterate that... compensation would be provided to the farmers who would not be able to save the crops,” she added.