Farmers stage protest against Mekedatu dam, price rise

TIRUCHY: Members of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam (a non-political outfit), led by its district president M Chinnadurai, staged a protest in front of the Collectorate in Tiruchy, demanding the state government to organise a series of protests against the Karnataka government for its stand on the construction of Mekedatu dam. Addressing protesters Chinnadurai said, the state government should initiate steps to unite all political parties of Tamil Nadu, farmers associations, MPs, MLAs and other pro-farmer organisations to protest against Karnataka and demand the Centre to pressurise the Karnataka government to stop the project. He also asked the Centre to control the price rise.

Meanwhile, in Thanjavur, members of Desiya Thennindiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam, led by its state president P Ayyakannu, assembled in front of the Collectorate and staged a protest demanding the Karnataka government to drop the Mekedatu project.

The members also demanded to stop dredging on riverbeds and urged the state to drop the move to establish sand quarries. Insisting Collector Dinesh Ponraj Oliver meet them and hear their grievances, the protesters blocked the Tiruchy-Thanjavur bypass. Traffic was disrupted on for more than an hour. The Collector asked the police to allow a few representatives to meet him, but they refused and started crawling on the road.

By this time, an office-bearer of the association removed all his dress and shouted slogans against the police. However, a team led by DSP P Rajkumar pacified the farmer and offered him a dhoti. Later, the Collector met a few representatives.