Chennai: A farmers’ association has approached the Madras high court to direct police to grant permission for a dharna on April 12 or any other subsequent date at Jujuwadi near Hosur-Bengaluru highway, against the proposed construction of two dams by Karnataka.
Justice R. Subbiah, before whom the petition filed by Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, came up for hearing, directed Additional government pleader P. Sanjay Gandhi to get instructions and posted the matter for April 12(Tuesday).
The association said it had filed cases in Supreme Court for implementing the Cauvery tribunal award, constitution of Cauvery water management board, Cauvery water regulatory authority and also regarding issues related to “illegal and unauthorised” construction of Mekedatu and Rasimanal dams by Karnataka.
In the dams case, the Karnataka government had on March 28 sought time in the Supreme Court. The case had been adjourned to July.
While so, same day (March 28), the Karnataka government, through ‘proxies’ (farmers’ association) performed ‘bhumi pooja’ and taken up preliminary work for constructing the dams. If the dams are constructed,
Tamil Nadu would suffer irreparable loss. The Cauvery delta would become a desert and agricultural activities would come to a standstill. The association said the Karnataka government had constructed many dams illegally earlier and appropriated waters meant for Tamil Nadu. Due to this attitude, it had become difficult even to cultivate one crop in a year in Tamil Nadu.
To focus attention of the Union and Tamil Nadu governments, the sangam along with TN All Farmers’ organising committee, decided to conduct a dharna on Tuesday. A request was made to Hosur police inspector to grant permission.
But there was no reply. However, officials in SP’s office informed the sangam that the dharna would not be allowed at Jujuwadi and requested the organisers to change the venue to some other remote area near Krishnagiri.
