Hundreds of farmers from Tamil Nadu marched to the interstate border to protest the Mekedatu dam project, alleging massive agricultural losses. Tensions flared at the Hosur border as farmers demand equitable water sharing.

Key Takeaways

  • Tamil Nadu farmers staged a massive protest against the proposed Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir Project in Karnataka.
  • The protest highlighted a massive loss of 7 lakh acres of Kuruvai crops due to inadequate water release.
  • Farmers accused Karnataka of treating the Cauvery river as a mere flood discharge channel rather than a shared resource.
  • Interstate tensions rose at the Hosur border, affecting public transport and causing a face-off between groups.

HOSUR: In a significant escalation of the long-standing Cauvery water dispute, hundreds of farmers from the delta and western regions of Tamil Nadu marched toward the interstate border to protest the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir Project. Organized under the umbrella of Tamizhaga Vivasaya Sangagalin Kootiyakkam, the protesters reached near Zuzuvadi in Hosur, leading to a tense standoff with police and local authorities.

The Agricultural Toll

The protest is fueled by deep-seated economic anxieties. According to farmer leader Kaveri Danapalan, the lack of timely water release has already devastated the agricultural landscape of Tamil Nadu. Approximately 7 lakh acres of Kuruvai crops have been lost, resulting in a production deficit of 15 lakh tonnes. This crisis has directly impacted 13 lakh farm laborers and 5 lakh small and marginal farmers, forcing them to shift their dependence to the monsoon-reliant Samba crops.

Unregulated Water Usage Allegations

A central point of contention is the management of the river. While the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu operates on a strictly regulated schedule to support the delta's agricultural cycle, farmers allege that Karnataka utilizes Cauvery water at its own discretion. "Karnataka cannot treat Cauvery as a discharge channel during floods and withhold water for cultivation," stated Danapalan. He further emphasized that while sugarcane in Tamil Nadu is largely restricted to borewell irrigation, in Karnataka, it is grown using Cauvery water year-round, leading to inequitable distribution.

Political Friction and Border Tensions

The situation on the ground turned volatile as Kannada outfits, led by former MLA Vatal Nagaraj, staged counter-protests demanding the immediate construction of the Mekedatu dam. This resulted in a near-face-off at the interstate border, disrupting public and private bus services at the Hosur bus stand. Furthermore, the protesting farmers expressed dissatisfaction with both the Union and State governments, alleging that political alliances have compromised their ability to fight effectively for water rights.