While border areas such as Cumbum and Goodalur remained calm and peaceful, demonstrations and fasts took place in Theni town, district headquarters, here on Tuesday as political parties and various associations took up the Mullaperiyar dam issue.
Members of the Concrete Contractors Association observed dawn to dusk fast. Around 100 members of the Theni District All Viswakarma Workers Association staged demonstration in the morning. Besides, hundreds of villagers, including farmers and women, observed fast at Veerapandi demanding that the water level in the dam be raised to 142 feet and Kerala abandon the proposal to demolish the structure.
All roads leading to Kerala remained closed for the 11 day. The corporation and private operators did not operate services to Kumily and restricted ones at Goodalur. Private van and auto services within Kerala too ended at the Kumily check post.
Sabarimala pilgrims and Tamil Nadu people living in Idukki district walked seven kilometres through the hill road from the Kumily check post to reach Lower Camp to board buses to reach their hometowns.
Similarly, people going to Idukki district from Kerala too walked up to Kumily to board buses to Udumbancholai, Nedunkandam, Vandiperiyar and other places.
Posters inviting farmers to take part in road blockade were put up at villages and towns.
