Trichy: Farmers in Nagapattinam protested against the Tamil Nadu government for failing to open the Mettur dam on the customary date of June 12. One group of farmers walked out of a grievance redressal meeting while another symbolically commemorated a dead water regulator.
Symbolic protest at water regulator
Several farmers marched through the dried-up Harichandra distributary and placed floral wreaths at the water regulator in Meenamanallur village near Keelaiyur. They also lighted candles as a mark of tribute and protest.
Farmers blame Karnataka
The farmers condemned the Karnataka government for failing to release Cauvery water as directed by the Cauvery Water Management Authority. “Many of us are distraught without Cauvery water irrigation and loss of kuruvai crop cultivation. Karnataka should provide us compensation for the loss,” said R Srithar, a leader of Tamizhaga Kaviri Vivasaayigal Sangam.
The farmers accused the Tamil Nadu chief minister of maintaining silence and shielding Karnataka due to his political alliance with the Congress. They demanded immediate and firm action from the chief minister.
Threat to kuruvai cultivation
Due to the failure to release water, they warned that kuruvai cultivation on nearly 5 lakh acres across delta districts is at risk of total failure. In Nagapattinam district alone, where one lakh acres were cultivated last year, not a single acre can be cultivated this year, said Srithar.
The farmers expressed deep concern that more than 3 lakh agricultural labourers will lose their livelihood and face severe hardship due to this situation. They raised slogans demanding that the Tamil Nadu government immediately secure Cauvery water from Karnataka and obtain compensation from the government for the affected farmers.
Walkout from grievance meeting
Meanwhile, in Vedaranyam, farmers walked out from the revenue divisional level farmers grievance redressal meeting in protest against the non-opening of the Mettur dam and lack of water for irrigation.
