RAMANATHAPURAM
President of Desiya Then India Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam P. Ayyakannu has pledged support to the farmers, who launched a relay fast at Uppur in the district, protesting acquisition of cultivable lands for the proposed 1,600 MW supercritical thermal power plant.
Addressing the protesters on the last day of the three-day fast at Uppur on Monday, he said the farmers did not have to worry as the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court had made it clear that no agricultural lands could be alienated for industrial purposes without the consent of the farmers.
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The power plant could never come up in the area if the farmers were united and fought for their rights. “I am willing to bring 1,000 farmers from other districts and let us fight till the end,” he said.
The relay fast was launched by the villagers and members of ‘Anaithu Vivasayigal Padugappu Nala Sangam’ and ‘Meenava Padugappu Koottamaippu’ on Saturday.
Mr. Ayyakannu assured the farmers that he would lead a delegation of farmers to meet Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami if the authorities were bent upon establishing the proposed thermal power plant. “The government could do nothing, ignoring the protests of the farmers,” he said.
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He said Thiruvadanai block was the rice bowl of the district and the whole district would prosper if the State government linked Cauvery, Vaigai and Gundaru rivers. Nearly 25 TMC ft of flood water flowed waste into the sea every year and this quantum of water could be harvested if the rivers were linked, he said. The Chief Minister had given assurance to this project, he added.
Former DMK Minister Suba. Thangavelan and his son and DMK district secretary Suba.Tha. Diwakaran were among those expressed solidarity with the farmers.
R. Karunanidhi, president of the Nala Sangam, who led the fast, said the farmers would take direct action if the authorities went ahead with the project and started work on government poromboke lands.