Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister R. Vinoth stated during a high-level meeting in Vellore that the state government will take all necessary steps to secure its rightful share of Cauvery water from Karnataka. This statement comes as a direct response to Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who recently expressed the upper-riparian state's inability to release water due to insufficient rainfall and low reservoir storage.

The Cauvery water dispute is a long-standing conflict between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, regulated by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and various Supreme Court mandates. However, during years of deficient monsoon, the dispute routinely flares up, threatening the agricultural output of Tamil Nadu's fertile delta region, which depends heavily on these waters for survival.

Agricultural Budget Consultations and Regional Demands

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the third regional-level pre-Agriculture Budget consultative meeting. The three-hour-long session saw active participation from farmers representing eight districts, including Chengelpattu, Cuddalore, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet, and Tirupattur. A key demand raised by the region's farmers, who cultivate extensive acres of mango, was the establishment of fruit pulp processing units.

Focus on Modernization and Technological Integration

Minister Vinoth highlighted that the upcoming budget would focus heavily on agricultural modernization. Discussions centered around the increased use of machinery in cultivation, execution of new technologies, micro-irrigation systems for water conservation, organic farming, and the integration of renewable energy in farming practices. These steps are aimed at making agriculture resilient to climate-induced water shortages.

Addressing the water crisis, the Minister assured that after detailed consultations with the Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu would deploy appropriate legal and administrative strategies to ensure Karnataka complies with water-sharing agreements. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Human Resources Management D. Sarathkumar and Vellore Collector P.S. Leela Alex.