Farmers protest for release of Cauvery water

Over 3,500 members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam and Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Thozhilalar Sangam affiliated to the two Communist parties were taken into custody from Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts when they tried to block roads and trains demanding release of water in the Cauvery for samba cultivation and compensation for the loss of the ‘kuruvai’ paddy crop on Thursday 16th August

The organisations resorted to the stir at 28 places across Thanjavur district leading  to the arrest of 839 members. At the Thanjavur railway station, Sami Nadarajan, district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam led to agitation to stop the Mayiladuthurai-Tiruchi Passenger. They were arrested by the police. At Thanjavur old bus stand, cadres led by Shanmugham, state general secretary of the TN Vivasayigal Sangam resorted to a road blockade and courted arrest.

In Tiruvarur district, as many as 1796 members of the farmers’ organisations were arrested. At Tiruvarur junction, cadres led by K.Balakrishnan, state president of the TN Vivasayigal sangam were arrested by the police when they tried to stop Ernakulam-Karaikal Express. At Thiruthuraipoondi CPI(M) Tiruvarur district secretary I.V.Nagarajan led the agitation. They tried to stop Thiruthuraipoondi-Pattukottai passenger. At Needamangalam cadres who tried to stop Nagore-Tiruchi Passenger were arrested by the police. Road blockades were also held at Mannargudi, Kottur, Muthupettai and Peralam.

Rail rokos were organized at Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai too. At Nagapattinam, the Tiruchi bound Karaikal-Tiruchi passenger was blockaded at around 11 a.m, while the Chennai-bound Cholan Express was blockaded at the Mayiladuthurai station. Over 502 people were secured for rail blockade at Nagapattinam, while 60 cadres were secured at Mayiladuthurai.

The  farmers associations pitched their demand for Centre’s intervention in securing early release of Cauvery water. The demonstrators demanded that the government announce a compensation of Rs.10,000 per acre for farmers, and Rs.10,000 per family for farm labourers to compensate for the kuruvai loss. Farm labourers have lost out on wages since June, due to lack of Kuruvai-based agricultural activity, they said.

Road rokos held at Keezhvelur, Keezhayur, Tharangambadi, Sirkazhi, Vedaranyam, Thalainayar, and Thirumarugal witnessed arrests of over 931 cadres, including 332 women across the district.
Source : The Hindu