Amid Cauvery row, state asks cops to check crop status

IN an unusual move, Tamil Nadu government has roped in state intelligence wing informally to assess the ground reality of the agriculture sector and the farmers in the delta districts.

- D VINCENT AROCKIARAJ

The move comes at a time when the farmers have been urging the state government to take action to get the due share of Cauvery water from Karnataka, which is essential for kuruvai paddy cultivation or to propose alternative ideas to support delta farmers.

Personnel from Special Branch CID (SB-CID) are evaluating the exact farming conditions by contacting the representatives of various farmers' associations, gathering the ground reality of farm ing and farming community including cultivation of alternative crops that require minimal water and require lower input costs. Meanwhile, farm ers are hopeful that the government will formulate an alternative policy to safeguard their livelihoods.