COIMBATORE: Protests broke out in Coimbatore district on Tuesday against the
Kerala government starting construction of a
check dam across the
Bhavani river.
While the youth wing of the
MDMK decided to block all Kerala buses entering the district through K K Chavadi, a few other parties have decided to form a human chain in protest followed by a protest at the construction site.
Members of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi among others met at Periyar Padhipagam to discuss how to deal with the construction of the check dam by Kerala.
“We have decided to register a protest by all the parties forming a human chain at Gandhi Park on January 21. On January 29, we plan to go all the way to Chavadiyur in Palakkad where the check dam is being constructed and do a protest at the spot,” said TPDK general secretary, K Ramakrishnan.
Meanwhile, the youth wing of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) blocked the main highway at K K Chavadi. They stopped at least four buses and trucks coming from Kerala.
“We protested in a peaceful manner for about an hour. We want to stop allowing Kerala vehicles from entering the district because they are trying to stop their rivers from flowing into the district,” said K Eashwaran of MDMK.
TPDK members on Monday said Kerala had begun construction of a check dam across the river. “They are doing this to stop the flow of water to
Tamil Nadu, despite it originating from the Nilgiris which is in Tamil Nadu,” said Ramakrishnan.
“If they build the check dam, the Bhavani river, whose water is used for drinking and farming, will go dry during the summer. The Pilloor river, which supplies drinking water, will also go dry. Siruvani dam has already gone empty,” he said.