Farmers’ state-wide agitation today

The farmers will block roads at 1,000 places and stage rail-roko agitations in 100 places across the state, PR Pandian, coordinator of the association, said. In Chennai, the farmers will hold rail-roko agitations at Central, Egmore, Pallavaram and Tambaram stations. Major political parties, Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Federation, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu, besides various trade unions have extended their support to the dawn-to-dusk bandh. Lakhs of farmers would stage protests to draw the central government’s attention towards the plight of farming community in the state.

He said since the state government did not concede to their (farmers) demand for convening an all-party meeting to discuss the inter-state water disputes, they were holding the state-wide protest. He appealed to ruling AIADMK to support the bandh. 

Pandian said Tamil Nadu is facing a multi-pronged attack from neighbouring states like Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. While Karnataka government is refusing to release Cauvery River water for raising at least a single samba crop in Delta region and planning to construct a dam over the river at Mekedatu, the Kerala government is planning to construct check dams across Siruvani. The Andhra Pradesh government was obstructing the natural flow of Palar River to Tamil Nadu by increasing the height of a check dam at Perumballam in Chittoor district affecting the ryots of northern districts of the state. 

Since Tamil Nadu is facing a danger of losing its rights on inter-state water disputes, the Centre should take immediate steps to restore its rights, to ensure release of 74 tmc of water due to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka, to constitute Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee for implementing the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, he said.