The Cauvery River Authority’s (CRA) recommendation on water release to Tamil Nadu has sparked off protests across Mandya district.
Members of Mandya Zilla Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti and other organisations intensified protests as soon as news of the recommendation was out.
While members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stopped the Bangalore–Mysore train for some time at the Mandya railway station on Wednesday night, activists of other organisations staged protests across the district and also on the Bangalore–Mysore Highway here.
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Effigies burnt
The agitators, under the banner of the samiti, burnt effigies of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at various places on Thursday.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members burnt tyres on railway tracks and raised slogans against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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They also burnt an effigy of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for demanding water even when farmers in Karnataka were suffering because of drought.
Movement of vehicles on the Bangalore–Mysore Highway, Kanakapura–Malavalli Main Road, Mandya–Malavalli Main Road, Srirangapatna–Bidar Highway and other roads was affected on Thursday because of the farmers’ protest.
Farmers at Induwalu blocked the Bangalore–Mysore Highway by parking their bullock carts on the road. The protesters accused the CRA and the Union Government of showing step-motherly treatment towards farmers in Karnataka.
Protests were also held at Maddur, Pandavapura, Srirangapatna, K.R. Pet, Nagamangala, Malavalli, K.M. Doddi and Bharati Nagar against the release of water to Tamil Nadu.