Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur   

Fast seeking release of Mettur water

Special Correspondent

Timely demand: Members of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association and All India Agriculture Employees Association staging a hunger strike at Thanjavur on Thursday. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

THANJAVUR: Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to Communist Party of India (Marxist) observed a fast in front of Panagal building here demanding release of water from Mettur dam for Kurvuai cultivation.

K. Balakrishnan, State general secretary of the Sangam, led the fast. Addressing the participants of the fast, Mr. Balakrishnan said that water was not released on the traditional date of June 12 from Mettur Dam for the past three years. Hence farmers in canal-irrigated areas were not able to raise kuruvai. As a result, the economy of delta farmers and farm labourers was in doldrums. In such a situation if water was not released for Kuruvai cultivation this year, things may turn from bad to worse.

Mr. Balakrishnan appealed to the Government to convene the Cauvery River Authority meeting and direct Karnataka Government to release the due share of water to Tamil Nadu as per the interim award of the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal.

He alleged that Karnataka was engaged in increasing the cultivable area.

The farmers' leader said that Cauvery water was polluted due to letting out of waste water from Orathupalayam dam near Erode. This should be stopped.

A similar agitation was staged by members of the Sangam at Kumbakonam and Pattukottai in Thanajvur district and Tiruvarur and Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district. According to Balakrishnan the fast was held at Chidambaram also.

Tiruchi

Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam today staged a demonstration here urging the State Government to hold discussions with the Prime Minister to enable Tamil Nadu get its due share of water from Karnataka.

Police sources here said about 35 members of the Sangam, led by the CPM district secretary, Masilamani, staged a demonstration near the Anna Statue here.

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