human chain against construction of dam across Bhavani by Ker

A human chain, comprising people from all walks of life was formed here today, seeking to stop Kerala government's reported move to build a check dam across Bhavani river, saying it would affect irrigation and drinking water availability in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode Districts.
Those in the chain formed in Gandhipuram area, comprising leaders of some political parties, farmers' associations and trader's bodies, raised slogans against the move
General Secretary of Thanthai Peiyar Dravida Kazhakam K Ramakrishnan, who headed the chain, alleged Kerala had already started work on the dam.If built, it would lead to acute water shortage, both irrigation and drinking, in the three districts and nearly five lakh acres would become barren, he said.

Former DMK minister Pongalur N Palanisamy and Kongunadu Jananayaka Katchi founder-convenor G K Nagaraj were among those who participated, police said.
(Reopens CAL3)
Kumar has already said today's human chain programme

waslaunched as a special drive in support of prohibition and make Bihar intoxicant-free in next two months.
Bihar is witnessing complete ban on alcohol, domestic as well Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) since April 2016. The CM has taken prohibition exercise in a mission mode.
Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, state police chief P K Thakur and a host of civil and police officials held each other's hand as part of human chain in Gandhi maidan.

Excitement of the event was visible among school children who stood in the human chain in Patna and elsewhere.
Tabishi Sinha, a student of DAV BSEB school of Patna, hailed the event to express strong resolve against liquor.
"It's historic that all our schoolmates and other students have joined hands with each other to send a loud and clear message of 'no' to alcohol," said Tabishi, whose school stood at the stretch from CM's house to J D Womens' college.
A student of Notre Dame Ayesha Sayeed, whose school stood in line near Kurji More here, said it's a historic moment as we are becoming part of a great social revolution.

Women formed bulk of human chain in Patna and elsewhere.
Burqa-clad muslim women stood in queue in Gandhi maidan display participation of people from all faiths.
BJP which had decided to participate in the human chain programme said they were against liquor but would continue to raise voice against some stringent clauses in new Excise Law, 2016 like arrest of all adults in event of recovery of liquor bottle in a house, community fine and seizure of premises if even an empty liquor bottle is found.
Media reports suggest that BJP, which has been vocal against the liquor law, came in support of it after Prime Minister Narendra Modi patted Kumar on prohibition at the 350th Prakash Parva function on January 5.

Talking to reporters while standing in human chain in Siwan, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said "we always stood in support of liquor ban. It's due to pressure created by BJP that the state government clamped a total ban on alcohol, domestic as well Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL)."
Last week, the Bihar government announced to shut all manufacturing units of liquor in the state from next financial year only due to pressure of BJP, Sushil said.
Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar said "we are not standing for any individual (Nitish Kumar) but against alcohol."
Union state minister Ramkripal Yadav and party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain echoed similar views.

The state government made elaborate arrangements to capture the historical moments of human chain. ISRO has been involved to use Indian and foreign satellites to take photos of human chain. 40 drones, one chopper and four trainer aircraft have been engaged to film the event.