Kerala: DMK protests against check-dam move

Palakkad: A group of 450 DMK activists protested and cross over through Aanakkatty check-post on Sunday morning, demanding that Kerala Irrigation drop the plan to build six check dams across Bhavani. The Irrigation department had conceived six check-dams across Bhavani and one 5-ft high was already completed in 10 km in Attappadi. Nearly 200 TN policemen had put a four-tier barricade at the check-post and arrested protesters who had tried to cross over. Kerala Irrigation officials are of the opinion that the 5-ft check-dams were for water preservation and would not in any way divert the water downstream the river.

They said the protestors were being misled. Protesters said that more than 3.5 acres vegetable and plantation cultivation would be affected. On Friday, paddy farmers and public in Chittur and Nenmara on the Kerala side blocked vehicles carrying goods from Pollachi and other places in TN, demanding the release of water from Parambikulam Aliyar Project. The public blocked nearly 10 check-posts, including Govidapuram, Meenakshipuram and Gopalapuram on the border in Palakkad. Local people said said the poor monsoon had dashed their hopes for paddy cultivation and their protest was for drinking water as per PAP treaty with TN.