Chennai: Farmers all over the state tried to block trains and roads demanding the release of Cauvery water from Karnataka dams and over 4,700 farmers were arrested.
The protest called by the federation of all the farmers unions in the state and supported by parties including the DMK, Congress and BJP elicited good response from the delta districts, especially Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. Farmers ac-companied by DMK leaders tried to stop trains at Egmore and Tambaram and picked up by police.
Co-ordinator of the farmers unions P.R. Pandian said the Centre should break its silence on the Cauvery issue and form the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Monitoring Committee and demanded that TN put pressure on the Centre to act on the issue. He also condemned the Centre for allowing an environment impact study to construct a dam across the Siruvani river.
The protesters also condemned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement that they cannot release water as the farmers in Karnataka are facing a severe water shortage.
