Protests continue in Tamil Nadu over Cauvery River water issue

Protesters are demanding the CMB be set up at the earliest to implement the SC verdict

Protests, including rail blockades, by political parties and other outfits for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) continued yesterday in several parts of Tamil Nadu.

Protesters are demanding that the CMB be set up at the earliest to implement the Supreme Court’s February 16 verdict on water allocation among the riparian states.

Though the apex court reduced Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water, it had allowed the state to extract 10 tmcft (283 million cubic metres) groundwater from the river basin to tackle its pressing need for the drinking water. In Thanjavur, members of the Cauvery Rights Retrieval Association (CRRA) blocked rail traffic, affecting services for some time. Two express trains were stopped by the protesters.

In a different incident, an agitation was staged near the post office by another outfit.

Boards defaced

Cadres of an ultra Left outfit at Tircuhirapalli held a rally over the Cauvery and defaced the Tamil nameboard of the Hindi Prachar Sabha.

They also allegedly burnt BJP flags.

Farmers and cadres of a proTamil outfit also held a protest separately. In Chidambaram, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, which is also opposed holding IPL matches, held a “rail-roko” demonstration.

The CRRA in Mannargudi held a protest and in Nagapattinam, volunteers of actor Vijay staged a protest at the seashore.

In Dharmapuri, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran held a protest demonstration.

Opposing IPL matches over the Cauvery, Nam Tamizhar Katchi leader Seeman said Tamil Nadu was in no mood for a cricket match in view of agitations for the CMB. He asked the organisers to either postpone it or hold the match elsewhere.