Tamil Nadu farmers protest over Cauvery water release and compensation demands

…are releasing 25,000 cusecs of water from Kabini—simply because they don’t want the people of Karnataka to suffer,” Ayyakannu told reporters. Criticising Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar’s government, he said, “ we are holding this protest by burying in the sand against a government that is trying to kill us. ” Demanding ₹1 crore compensation from the Karnataka government, he said, “chief minister (C Joseph Vijay) must take immediate steps to secure compensation for the farmers.” Meanwhile, the opposition Dravida Munnetra…

…flags, DMK cadres raised slogans and demonstrated against the government. Targeting the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, Stalin accused it of betraying farmers through “negligence and arrogance”. “ These rulers are the sole reason why even on the day of Aadi Perukku (a traditional festival in Tamil Nadu), the Cauvery river looks like a dried-up wasteland ,” he said. “While the farmers who feed the nation are drowned in tears, the chief minister is busy posting reels,” Stalin said. He demanded that the government waive all agricultural loans, block Karnataka’s attempt to…

…Karnataka’s attempt to construct the dam at Mekedatu and declare the delta districts “drought-affected areas”. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) also demanded compensation for affected farmers. “ We urge the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam coalition government to immediately provide compensation to the farmers whose paddy crops have withered and been affected due to lack of water ,” AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said. Noting that water is released from the Mettur dam every year on June 12 for kuruvai paddy cultivation, he said the delay had affected delta farmers dependent on…