Pollachi: Farmers led by various political party members petitioned the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, demanding speedy action against Kerala proposing to construct four more dams across the Bhavani river.
Despite various protests by farmers and political parties, Kerala constructed two check dams across the Bhavani during last February near Attapadi and Majukandi stopping the inlet water source to Pilloor dam and leaving the people of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Mettupalayam and Erode suffer in drought.
A case was of filed in the Supreme court by Tamil Nadu government demanding to order Kerala to stop construction of further check dams across the Bhavani river. However, Kerala has not yet stopped its move towards further constructions of dams across the river, the farmers alleged.
Ku. Ramakrishnan, general secretary of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) told the DC, now that Kerala has started to construct four more dams at Padavayal, Seerakadavu, Salaiyoor and Sadiyoor, it will affect drinking water source and agriculture in hundreds of towns and villages in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Mettupalayam and Erode. A petition on behalf of all the political parties has been sent to the Chief Minister, demanding to take immediate action to stop the construction of check dams, he said. Kerala has to think about the safety of thousands of Kerala students studying in various colleges across state, he cautioned and added that the supply of vegetables, eggs, chicken and essential goods supplied to Kerala through Coimbatore might well be stopped as an act of protest.
