Cavery Basin Workshop

The Cauvery is an east-flowing river that originates in Coorg district, Karnataka. It traverses through Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala and Pondicherry before joining the Bay of Bengal. Cauvery has a total basin area of 87,900 sq km of which 41.2% falls within Karnataka, 55.5% in Tamil Nadu and only 3.3% in Kerala. The mean annual flow has been estimated at 20,950 Mm. Cauvery basin is not included in the Water Resource Consolidation Project (WRCP), and the formation of WUAs under TNFMIS Act in the region is not in vogue. The Command Area Development Authority has formed Farmers Councils (FCs) to promote farmers’ participation in water management activities.

TVNN and JalaSpandana strongly believe in the approach ‘Farmer to Farmer Technology Transfer’. The members of TVNN and JalaSpandana in Tamil Nadu take keen interest in organising and popularising PIM concept. Mr. A. Ramasamy President JalaSpandana, Mr. A.V.S. Velumayil, President TVNN, Mr. D. Muthukumarasamy Treasurer, TVNN, Mr. K. Vadivelu, EC member JalaSpandana and Mr. M.K. Karuppaiah EC member TVNN, Er. Veerasamy, ME, Superintendent Engineer from Department of CADA, Thanjavur participated in the workshop.

The business session witnessed heated discussions on various like Cauvery basin not being part of Water Resources Consolidation Project (WRCP), WUAs not being formed under TNFMIS Act in Cauvery basin, role of PIM in resolving water conflict at various levels, ground water depletion and efficient use of defunct bore wells to recharge ground water, relevance of farm ponds, etc. The prominent speakers along with TVNN and JalaSpandana include farmers from local area Mr. Ramanathan, President of FC Thanjavur, Mr. Krishna President FC Manarkudi and Mr. Nadesan President FC Nagapatinam.

Er. Veerachamy, SE, CADA illustrated the success stories of FCs located in Kannai, Peikarumbankottai and Orantharayankudikadu and the support extended by CADA to these FCs. The success of FCs also depends on the cooperation extended by farmer members in the FCs. He urged farmers to review the TNFMIS Act and demand their rights and discharge their duties. Farmers should adopt the modern technologies like sprinkler, drip irrigation, farm ponds, etc. The efforts of TVNN and JalaSpandana with the support of INPIM, is timely and appropriate activity, and the farmers in the region should take best use of the efforts of these organisations he said. Mr. R. Arunachalam, farmer from Cauvery basin delivered vote of thanks.

Thanjavur District Committee

TVNN Committee for Thanjavur district consists of S. Ramanathan,-Thanjavur (N) Convener, N.G. Rangarajan -Co convener, V. Ramachandran-Thanjavur (S) Convener, M. Dharmaraj - Co Convener, R. Arunachalam - Co Convener

Thiruvarur District Committee

TVNN Committee for Thiruvarur district consists of K.Ravichandran - EC Member, U. Krishnan - EC Member, A. Nanasambantham - EC Member, V. Anbalagan - EC Member

The following are the common resolutions emerged in all above-mentioned workshops.

1. There has to be consultation process between department officials and farmers in policy formulation and implementation for successful water management. 
2. WUAs should be formed to all water bodies and at all levels and even in non-WRCP areas.
3. The old water users institutions existing in villages should be accommodated in the policy through enabling legislature without affecting the structure and function. 
4. There has to be transparency and accountability between department and farmers.
5. Main system management should be handed over to user institutions.
6. Review agreements with neighboring States with the involvement of farmers
7.  Training programmes that focus on effective technologies should be undertaken
8. State should come out with clear policy on Irrigation Management Transfer, as there is confusion among the concerned departments.
9. Provide necessary support like required data, maintenance grants, etc
10. There should be a revisit on usufruct rights on tanks, for example fisheries.
    11. The abundant ground water extraction and sand mining from the riverbed should be stopped.
11. The community bore wells should be handed over to WUAs
12. The subsidy for the Sprinkler and Drip should be increased up to 50% for the purpose to increase the efficiency of water usage