Members of various farmers’ associations staged protests in Thanjavur on Saturday, voicing their displeasure with the State government for failing to secure Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water. The protests highlighted the growing frustration among farmers facing water shortages critical for their agriculture.
Leading one group, the Farmers’ Association for Linking South Indian Rivers, State President P. Ayyakannu spearheaded a demonstration near the District Collectorate on the Nagapattinam-Tiruchi Highway. Holding mud pots as a symbol of their plight, the protesters raised slogans demanding immediate intervention by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. They called for the Chief Minister to initiate talks with the Karnataka government to secure the release of the water or to file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court if necessary. They further demanded a staggering ₹1 lakh crore as compensation from Karnataka for not complying with the Supreme Court’s directives regarding water release.
Simultaneously, another faction of farmers’ associations, organized by the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), held a parallel demonstration near the “Aathupalam” junction in Thanjavur. These demonstrators condemned the Karnataka government for its reluctance to share the Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu and other states. They urged the Union government to take decisive action to enforce the Supreme Court’s order on the Cauvery water distribution.
These protests underscore the escalating tensions between the states over water sharing from the Cauvery River, a lifeline for agricultural practices in Tamil Nadu. Both sets of demonstrators echoed a common demand: the need for urgent action to ensure a fair distribution of water, highlighting the critical nature of this issue for the farming community. The coordinated protests reflect the dire situation faced by farmers and call for immediate resolution through government intervention.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/farmers-stage-demonstration-in-thanjavur-demanding-cauvery-water/article68399767.ece
Category : Tiruchirapalli
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