MDMK to block all roads to Kerala in May on water refusal to TN

The MDMK has threatened to block all roads leading to Kerala from Tamil Nadu on May 28, to protest against the Kerala’s refusal to release Tamil Nadu’s share of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of the party’s district secretaries and administrative council at the MDMK headquarters in Chennai on Tuesday. “The road roko will send across a message that we will not allow supply of food and other items if Kerala denies water to Tamil Nadu. Don't face a permanent economic embargo,” also warned the resolution.

“If Kerala refuses to release water, it has to face a permanent blockage of commodities transported from across the border (Tamil Nadu),” the release said, adding that Tamil nationalist leader Pazha Nedumaran and agrarian associations would participate in the protest.

Kerala’s refusal to share water resources in the Western Ghats puts in jeopardy around 30,000 acres that could not be cultivated as the neighbouring state had denied permission to repair the Shenbagavalli dam in Tirunelveli district. Similar denial of water from the Neyyar had deprived 28,000 acres of irrigation facilities in Kanyakumari district.

The Karur area would face drinking water shortage if Kerala succeeded in constructing a dam across the Pamba as the dam would prevent the flowing of water in Amaravathi river.

Kerala had failed to honour the Supreme Court order on the Mullaperiyar dam and the Centre was also tacitly supporting Kerala, the resolution said.

On April 7, MDMK, by another resolution, decided to hold demonstration in the district headquarters to highlight the State government's failure at adequate electricity plroduction.

- Asian Tribune -