Mekedatu: Cops stop ryots’ march to Karnataka

Over hundreds of farmers on Thursday marched towards Karnataka from Hosur in Krishnagiri district against the construction of the Mekedatu dam across Cauvery river by the neighbouring state.

The farmers, led by PR Pandian, president of All Farmers Association’s coordination committee, commenced their march around 12 noon from Mookandapalli area in Hosur.

They raised slogans condemning Karnataka’s move to build the dam, claiming that it may affect the flow of water to lower riparian states and ruin farming activities in the Delta districts.

However, the farmers were stopped by the police near the ESI hospital in SIPCOT area, a few kilometres away from the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka inter-state border, which resulted in a road block protest.

The farmers, who were agitated over being denied permission to march into Karnataka, squatted on the Chennai-Bengaluru national highway causing traffic disruptions. However, following talks with police officials, the farmers withdrew their protest and dispersed.

Speaking to reporters, PR Pandian said that the farmers will go to any extreme to prevent the construction of the dam, even if it means losing their own lives. “If the dam is built, about 25 lakh acres of farm lands will turn into desert in Tamil Nadu,” Pandian asserted.

Pandian also urged the State government to take up building of a dam at Rasimanal area, for which former CM Kamarajar had already laid the foundation stone.

He also condemned the BJP-led central government for suspending the AIADMK legislators who raised the Mekedatu issue in both the houses of the parliament.

“The Prime Minister has been acting against the interests of the farmers of Tamil Nadu, while eying for a political mileage in Karnataka. The centre should immediately revoke the permission given to Karnataka to develop the detailed project report (DPR) for Mekedatu dam,” he said.