Members of various political parties formed a human chain at Gandhipuram on Monday in protest against the Kerala government’s move to construct a dam across the Siruvani.
The protestors from the Pattali Makkal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Lok Satta, Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and various farmers’ associations carried placards and raised slogans condemning the Kerala move and voiced their support for Tamil Nadu’s rights on inter-State rivers.
K. Ramakrishnan, general secretary of the Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, said that if Kerala went ahead with the plan, the people of Coimbatore and farmers in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode would suffer.
He asked the Centre not to remain a mute witness and act in accordance with the law to protect Tamil Nadu’s rights.
M. Arumugham, MLA and district secretary, CPI, said that his party had raised the issue in the Assembly to highlight the plight of the people and farmers of the region. It was unacceptable that Kerala was trying to deny Tamil Nadu its share of water.
S. Doraisamy of the MDMK said that the dam would affect the inflow into the Bhavani and the Bhavani Sagar dam. This would impact agriculture in Erode district.
The protestors said that they would not remain passive witnesses to the move for a dam.
An all-party meeting convened by the PDK earlier had planned a meeting of all elected representatives from Tirupur, Coimbatore, and Erode after the human chain to decide the future course of action.
