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Road blockade lifted, inter-State traffic resumes

Tamil Nadu Bureau

Karunanidhi promises to protect rights of State through legal means

RETURN TO NORMALITY: Police personnel clearing the traffic between Coimbatore and Kerala on the bypass road on Friday afternoon. — PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Walayar (Tamil Nadu/Kerala border): Traffic between Kerala and Tamil Nadu resumed on Friday afternoon, after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadres, farmers and activists of other organisations lifted a 22-hour road blockade.

The agitation was called off after an appeal from Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi assuring to protect the rights of the State through legal means.

Roads had been blocked at nine places in the district to condemn the Kerala Government's attitude on the Mullaperiyar dam issue. The Supreme Court has allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 ft.

The agitators raised slogans condemning the Kerala Government for deputing a team of Navy experts to assess the dam's strength.

They termed "unfair and provocative," the Kerala Government's stand and actions usurping the rights of Tamil Nadu.

The Kerala stand violated the rights guaranteed in the agreement and was also against the Supreme Court ruling, they argued.

Supplies hit

The blockade was primarily aimed at the stopping supply of materials to Kerala. The agitators blocked arterial and rural feeder roads. Vehicles lined up for over 8 km on either side of the border.

While trucks laden with vegetables, dairy and poultry products were stranded on the Tamil Nadu side, vehicles carrying fish and other commodities got stuck on the Kerala side.

The worst hit were Sabarimala pilgrims.

After the blockade was lifted, despite the huge police presence, drivers were struggling till evening. Due to double, triple and even four-lane parking on Thursday, NH 47 witnessed traffic snarls.

Additional police reinforcements were being deployed for regulating the flow. With bus services yet to become normal, trains to Kerala continue to remain jam-packed.

According to eyewitnesses, miscreants stoned some of the Kerala buses.

Traffic restored

In Theni, traffic on the three inter-State ghat roads was restored. The Kumuli-Theni Highway, Bodi Mettu Road connecting Munnar and Theni and Cumbum Mettu Road connecting Kumuli through Kochara and Anakkara with Cumbum were cleared of vehicles that had lined up for several kilometres. Collector Har Sahay Meena told reporters that Revenue divisional officers and tahsildars were deputed to clear traffic congestion.

Effigy burnt

Cadres of the Kerala Congress (J) burnt an effigy of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. They demanded that the Government should not allow Tamil Nadu buses into Kerala.

The Tamil Nadu police stopped Sabarimala pilgrims proceeding to Kerala at Devadhanapatti and Andipatti check posts and advised them to take a diversion. A group of pilgrims picketed the Theni-Dindigul road at Devadhanapatti demanding permission to pass through Theni and Kumuli to reach Kerala.

An uneasy calm prevailed at Kaliakkavilai (Kerala border) after DMK activists held a demonstration against the Kerala Government. They burnt an effigy of Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. The Kerala State Transport Corporation suspended inter-State bus services following the tense situation at Kaliakkavilai. It operates 24 buses from Thiruvananthapuram to Nagercoil and five from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation did not operate services to Thiruvananthapuram and other parts of Kerala.

Traffic on the Gudalur-Kozhikode was disrupted for some time late on Thursday night.

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