Farmers block railway line in Thanjavur, against Karnataka preparing Mekedatu DPR

Several farmers from the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam were detained on Friday after they attempted to block the Cholan Express in Thanjavur, protesting against the ongoing a detailed project report (DPR) initiated by Karnataka government for the proposed Mekedatu dam.

The police stopped the protesters while they were moving towards the railway track and prevented them from stopping the train. Several members, including local functionaries, were taken into custody and later remanded.

The protest followed the Sangam’s State Executive Committee meeting held earlier in the day, presided over by association president L. Palaniyappan.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Mr. Palaniyappan condemned the Centre’s decision that allowed Karnataka to go ahead with the DPR. He pointed out that both the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court had ruled that no dam could be constructed across the Cauvery without the consent of lower riparian States.

“Despite these directives — and despite the Gazette notification — the Jal Shakti Ministry has permitted Karnataka to prepare the DPR and even brought the matter before the Cauvery Water Management Authority. This is entirely unacceptable,” he said.

He urged Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry to boycott the CWMA meeting scheduled in New Delhi on December 8 in protest.