Farmers demand steps to scrap Karnataka’s plan to construct balancing reservoir at Mekedatu
The protesting farmers criticise Central and Tamil Nadu governments for allowing Karnataka’s proposal to be referred to the Central Water Commission for further action; they also seek permission for Tamil Nadu to build a dam at Rasimanal
Kanniyakumari Collector P.N. Sridhar on Thursday chaired a meeting here to review the bird u surveillance system put in place in various parts of the district following avian inuenza outbreak in neighbouring Kerala.
In the meeting attended by senior o cials from various government departments, he said the Kerala Government had ordered the culling of over 45,000 poultry birds, including chicken, ducks and turkey, following avian inuenza outbreak in the neighbouring State.
The poultry birds aected by avian inuenza would die within 48 hours without manifesting any serious symptoms and, hence, the poultry industry would suer heavy loss due to the viral infection and loss in egg production.
The Collector also cautioned that improperly cooked chicken meat or eggs would cause health issues and, hence, the public should be cautious while buying eggs or broiler.
Members of various farmers’ organisations staged a picketing agitation in front of an o ce of the Water Resources Department (WRD) in Thanjavur on Thursday urging the State government to take steps to prevent Karnataka from going ahead with its proposal to build a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery at Mekedatu.
The protest was called by the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Association of Tamil Nadu. Members of various farmers organisations, led by P.R. Pandian, committee president, marched from the Old Collector’s O ce in the town to the o ce of the Superintending Engineer, WRD, Lower Cauvery Basin Circle, in the town.
The police had put up steel barricades to block
Farmers marching towards the Water Resources Department o ice in Thanjavur on Thursday as part of a protest demanding steps to prevent Karnataka from building a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu.
farmers from entering the Water Resources Department o ce.
The protesting farmers criticised the Centre and State governments for going
along with the Karnataka’s “illegal” plan to build the reservoir and block the ow of surplus water to Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had failed to
strongly oppose the Cauvery Water Management Authority decision to refer back the Karnataka proposal to build the reservoir at Mekedatu to the Central
Water Commission further action.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar were openly asserting that the dam would be built if the INDIA bloc comes to power. But Mr. Stalin, who claims to be the architect of the INDI Alliance, has not raised his voice against this, Mr. Pandian alleged.
Mr. Pandian demanded that the Centre grant permission to Tamil Nadu to build a dam across the river at Rasimanal.
P. Ayyakannu, president, Desiya Thennidia Nadigal Innaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, accused Karnataka of trying to destroy Tamil Nadu.
Farmers were forced to take to the streets as both the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments had failed to question Karnataka on the issue.
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