Farmers, party workers block trains, demand 2 tmc Cauvery water

THANJAVUR(TN): Farmers and members of various political outfits blocked trains at various areas in Southern districts today, demanding release of two tmc Cauvery water for delta areas as against 9,000 cusecs released by Karnataka.

Officials said farmers and members of parties like MDMK, Viduthalai Siruthaigal Ammaippu and Nam Tamizhar Iyakkam blocked trains at Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam and other places.

Farmers said though water had been released from Mettur following good inflows after Karnataka started releasing water as per a Supreme Court directive, water had not reached the channels due to indiscriminate sand mining in the river beds.

PWD officials said river beds in the district had sunk in many places due to illegal sand mining.

The Karnataka government began releasing water after the Supreme Court asked it to abide by the September 19 directive of Cauvery River Authority, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh till October 15.