THANJAVUR : Hunders of farmers under the banner of the Cauvery Rights Retrieval Committee (CRRC), an umbrella organisation of various political parties and farmer associations, commenced their continuous sit-in agitation in front of the collectorate on Tuesday demanding the Centre to constitute Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and desist from disbanding the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).
Following the protest near the collectorate bus stop, traffic in Tiruchy-Thanjavur Highways had to be slowed down near the protest venue.
P Maniyarasan, convener of CRRC, said if the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2017, is passed in Parliament, it would pave the way for setting up of a single standing tribunal to resolve water disputes between states. That could mean the disbanding of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), which was hearing the dispute for over 27 years. If that happens, justice for Tamils over Cauvery water rights would be more elusive. “We would not move from the protesting site till the Union government give an assurance that the Cauvery Water Management Board would be constituted and the CWDT would not be disbanded,” he added. He further said the Unitary Tribunal proposal should be shelved and no permission should be given to any entity to explore Coal Bed Methane, hydrocarbon, lignite or petroleum in the Cauvery Delta districts.
He also said the protest would continue till the State government orders immediate ban on mining sand in the rivers and waiver of all crop loans. The government, he added, should increase the compensation for crop loss to Rs 25,000 per acre, Rs 15,000 per acre for land left fallow due to the non-availability of water and Rs 15 lakh each for the families of the farmers who committed suicide.
T Vellaiyan, the president of Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai said the Centre has been acting in favour of Karnataka, which has been refusing water to Tamil Nadu. This would endanger the integrity of the nation. If the present situation continues, then Tamil Nadu would become a desert, he added.
Ayanavaram C Murugesan, general secretary of Tamilar Desiya Iyakkam, T Manimozhiyan of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, Kudanthai Arasan of Viduathalai Tamil Puligal Katchi were among those present.