Cauvery delta farmers protest against Karnataka's Mekedatu project

Farmers protested despite heavy rains over railway tracks at Thanjavur Railway Station led by MDMK leader Vaiko

MDMK chief Vaiko and hundred others were arrested  for holding protests over railway tracks against the Karnataka government’s plan to construct two dams across the Cauvery for Mekedatu project.

Over 750 persons -- cadres of various parties and farmers belonging to the entire Cauvery delta belt, including Vaiko, were taken into custody for holding protests over railway tracks at Thanjavur Railway Station against the Karnataka government, police said.

While over 75 per cent of the shops remained closed in support of the agitation, road blockades were held in some 50 places across the district. MDMK, DMK and DMDK cadres took part in the protests, police said.

While Vaiko contended that over five crore people would be denied drinking water if Cauvery was “obstructed”, farmers demanded that the Centre should intervene and not let Karnataka government decide on its own in this sensitive issue and also to constitute the Cauvery Management Board. Hundreds of farmers of various associations staged a ‘rail roko’ at Chidambaram Railway Station in Cuddalore.

The protest was led by legislator and CPI (M) leader K Balakrishnan, police said. The express train between Tiruchirapalli and Chennai was delayed for about 20 minutes following the protest. Congress legislator N R Rengarajan led the protests in Pattukkottai, where rail traffic was affected.

While over 150 farmers and political activists were taken into custody in Nagapattinam for holding protests against the project, over 60 DMK activists were detained in Thiruvarur.

All those taken into custody were later released, officials said. Cauvery is the source of livelihood for the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur and areas around. According to Tamil Nadu Agri University, Cauvery Delta Zone encircles the 28 revenue taluks in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagappatinam, Tiruchirapalli, Cuddalore and Pudukkottai districts. The Tamil Nadu government has approached the SC after K’taka Water Resources Minister’s reported speech that the state was planning to implement Mekedatu project.

By constructing two dams across the Cauvery for which it need not get Tamil Nadu's consent.