Members of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) staged a demonstration in front of the Mettur Dam Park on Monday demanding the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
President of the party G. K. Vasan called upon the Centre and the state government to accord priority for solving the problems confronting the farming community of the state.
He said more than 60 % of the farm produce of the state depended on the water of River Cauvery.
Mr. Vasan arrived at the protest venue by driving a tractor on his own. A group of cadre affiliated to the farmers’ wing of the party, led by its president Puliyur A. Nagarajan, arrived at the venue carrying the plough on their shoulders and women carrying empty pots.
Mr. Vasan and other leaders displayed the paddy crop withered due to the non-availability of water in delta region during the agitation.
Joint agitation
Later, Mr. Vasan met the farmers and the local people of the five villages surrounding Kaamalapuram airport who are opposed to the move of the government to acquire fertile farm lands for the airport expansion project.
Addressing the farmers, Mr. Vasan said that his party will stand by them on this issue. He urged all political parties to launch joint agitation to prevent the government from acquiring fertile lands and protect the interest of the farmers.