Tamil Nadu farmers bury themselves in sand demanding Kaveri water
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Tiruchirappalli: In a dramatic escalation of the Kaveri water dispute, farmers in Tamil Nadu buried themselves in sand along the Kaveri riverbank on Sunday, demanding the immediate release of water from Karnataka to save the State's Kuruvai crop.
The unusual protest was led by farmers' association leader P. Ayyakannu, who accused Karnataka of repeatedly refusing to release Tamil Nadu's rightful share of Kaveri water despite repeated appeals. The protesters alleged that Karnataka was releasing only surplus water while denying the State its due allocation, reducing Tamil Nadu to what they described as a "drainage state." They also renewed their opposition to the proposed Mekedatu dam project, warning that it would further threaten the State's water security.
Ayyakannu urged Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to move the Supreme Court seeking ₹1 lakh crore in compensation for losses suffered by Tamil Nadu's farming community. He also alleged that despite a Supreme Court directive requiring Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu every month, and with reservoirs in Karnataka holding more than 80 TMC of water, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had refused to release even 3,500 cusecs. He further claimed that authorities failed to divert rainwater flowing from Kerala to the Bhavanisagar Dam despite having the opportunity to do so.
The controversy intensified after BJP State secretary Vinoj P. Selvam accused the TVK government of failing to protect farmers' interests and secure Tamil Nadu's rightful water share, alleging that the government had neglected the crisis.
The latest confrontation underscores the renewed intensity of the decades-old Kaveri water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during years of deficient rainfall.