The supreme court has asked Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu every day till further orders. However, farmers living near Cauvery delta region are worried as their livelihood is at stake as the quantity of water is too less to grow Samba (rice), a major crop (grown during September-January) in the delta region of the state.

Mannargudi S Ranganathan, general secretary of Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association, says, “Against requirement of 134 TMC water, 2000 cusecs will not be sufficient at all.”

According to city-based observer Sam Rajappa, farmers have spent a lot of money in raising crop. The quantity of water is just not sufficient and is going to cause them huge loss. Such a situation might lead to cases of farmers’ suicide, he says.

The rice requirement of entire Kerala and parts of Karnataka too is met by Thanjavur. The only option would then be to import rice, which would be a great burden on exchequer, says Rajappa. If necessary measures are not taken, the situation would be bad for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and for the nation, he says, adding that the centre should have focused on setting up Cauvery management board. The board would have been more scientific. The centre should have constituted the board in 2007 but they are not doing it even now.