Delta farmers held for rail roko bid over Cauvery water

THANJAVUR: Hundreds of farmers were today detained in different parts of delta districts in Tamil Nadu, when they attempted to block trains demanding release of the Cauvery river water by Karnataka for agriculture operations.

Police said the farmers were also pressing for immediate constitution of Cauvery River Water Management Board for effective implementation of the inter-state water dispute tribunal's final award apportioning the river water among the riparian states.

The protesters owing allegiance to various farmers organisations had proposed to block trains in various places, including Tiruvarur, Mannargudi, Koradacheri, Peralam and Mayilathurai. But they were detained at different points even before they gathered at the place of protest, police said.

Complaining that Karnataka, the upper riparian state, was not releasing its share of Cauvery water, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has recently sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, Karnataka has cited "worst drought in four decades" in the state and expressed its inability to release Cauvery water.