JOIN USFarmers of the delta region of Tamil Nadu, will join hands with political parties, to observe a total bandh on November 22, condemning the Karnataka government's proposal to construct two new dams across the river Cauvery at Mekedatu.
The Tiruvarur All Farmers’ Associations Coordination Committee, an umbrella organisation comprising 24 farmers’ associations in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, has given the call for the dawn-to-dusk bandh.
All political parties including two major Dravidian outfits, the J Jayalalitha-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the M Karunanidhi-led Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)— were unanimous in condemning Karnataka's move to build reservoirs along Cauvery.
Officially, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam issued a strongly-worded statement and wrote to Prime Minister Modi, urging the Centre to stop Karnataka from going ahead with the construction of the dam.
Farmers’ committee president P R Pandian said the move to build two dams would severely affect the livelihoods of farmers in 12 districts, who entirely depend on the Cauvery river water for farm activities.
“We have urged all political parties in the State to support the protest and make it a grand success”, he told reporters.
Charging the neighbouring state for disregarding orders of the Cauvery Tribunal to release water, he said about three crore farmers cultivate only Samba crops using surplus water from Karnataka and the proposal with the new dams is to deny even that.