Tamil Nadu CM declares Cauvery Delta as Protected Special Agriculture Zone

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has recently announced that the Cauvery delta region would be declared a Protected Special Agriculture Zone. Protected Special Agriculture Zone is not a new concept, Uttarakhand and Kerala already have them.

Why Cauvery Delta is important for Tamil Nadu?

• The Cauvery delta region is an important agricultural region in Tamil Nadu which is also known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu that comprises eight districts.
• These eight districts are Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Karur and Tiruchirapalli which will be converted into a Protected Special Agriculture Zone.

Significance of Cauvery delta Protected Special Agriculture Zone

• Declaring PSAZ ensures that a particular region will not be granted permission for any new projects like those related to hydrocarbons.
• Only Agro-based Industries would be given permission to be built.
• Drilling for extraction of oil and gas in these regions that hamper agriculture and posing much environmental impact or health hazards will be stopped immediately.

Background

• In 2019, Centre had awarded oil and gas exploration contracts in the Cauvery basin.
• Tamil Nadu has witnessed protests over the projects amid the ongoing water crisis in the state.

About Cauvery Delta

• It lies in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu.
• It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Palk straight on the south.

Why the need to declare PSAZ?

• The Cauvery delta region is an important agricultural region in Tamil Nadu where farmers are doing agriculture despite various climatic challenges.
• Projects like hydrocarbon exploration here have caused concern among farmers and other agricultural laborers, as the delta area is also very close to the sea, hence the need to protect the area.
• To ensure that agriculture is not affected in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Karur and Tiruchirappalli districts, these Cauvery delta areas will be converted into a protected special agricultural zone.

PAPER-III