Farmers in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur district staged a dramatic protest during a weekly grievance redressal meeting at the district collectorate on Thursday. The demonstration was directed against neighbouring Karnataka's renewed push to construct the Mekedatu balancing reservoir, following a recent Supreme Court order seen as favourable to the upper riparian state.
Walkout Over Mekedatu DPR Nod
The meeting, chaired by Thanjavur District Collector B Priyanka Pankajam, saw participation from more than a hundred cultivators, including leaders of various farmers' associations. The atmosphere turned tense as soon as the contentious Mekedatu issue came up for discussion.
Expressing their deep frustration, a large section of the farmers present walked out of the hall in a coordinated protest. Their anger was specifically aimed at the Supreme Court's directive permitting Karnataka to submit the detailed project report (DPR) of the Mekedatu project before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). The farmers condemned this judicial order in strong terms and demanded its immediate withdrawal, fearing it would pave the way for the dam's construction and curtail Tamil Nadu's rightful share of Cauvery water.
Slogans Against Karnataka, Apex Court, and CWMA
Outside the meeting hall, the protesting farmers raised their voices in unison, shouting slogans. They denounced the actions of the Karnataka government, criticised the Supreme Court's order, and voiced their distrust in the Cauvery Water Management Authority. The protest highlighted the simmering tensions and high stakes involved in the decades-long interstate water dispute.
Appeal for Proactive Tamil Nadu Stance
After voicing their dissent for several minutes, the farmers returned to the hall to rejoin the proceedings. They used the platform to issue a stern appeal to the Tamil Nadu state government. The farmers urged the administration to abandon what they termed a "passive stance" on the Mekedatu issue.
They called for swift and decisive political and legal action to counter Karnataka's moves and to safeguard the interests and livelihoods of lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu who depend on the Cauvery river for irrigation. The protest underscored the urgent demand for the state leadership to proactively defend the state's water rights in the face of new legal developments.
