Farmers plan rail roko on April 25

Talking to the media, PR Pandian, President of the Committee, said they will block movement of all trains in the core delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. “The Cauvery issue will be the sole focus of the protest and hence we request all political parties, farmers’ organisations, students and the public to support the rail blockade protest. Several organisations have come forward to participate in the agitation,” he said. 

Pandian appealed to the public to bear with the farmers’ protest and opt for road travel instead of train during the protest.

He rejected Karnataka’s contention that the storage in their reservoirs was poor and said meteorologists have predicted the onset of monsoon soon in the catchment areas of the Cauvery River. “We want the release of water in the Cauvery by Karnataka so that the Mettur dam can be opened for irrigation on June 12, the usual date of water release for irrigation,” Pandian said.

Referring to the Centre’s move to establish a permanent tribunal that would subsume existing tribunals, to adjudicate upon river water disputes between States, Pandian said it was nothing but an attempt to deprive Tamil Nadu of its rights over Cauvery waters. It was regrettable that the State government had not spelt out its stand on the issue he said, adding, that the all party meeting convened by the DMK to discuss issues confronting farmers should extend its support to the rail blockade agitation.