Bandh in delta districts postponed to August 30

Trichy: The state-wide bandh announced by the Cauvery Delta All Farmers' Association has been postponed to August 30 from 25. The decision was taken in a meeting held in Trichy on Thursday, as Krishna Jayanti fell on August 25, which is a public holiday.

The bandh has been called to press the Centre to ensure release of 74 tmc of water from the Cauvery river due to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka immediately.

Addressing reporters, P R Pandian, coordinator of the association, said that it was decided to hold the bandh on August 25 at a meeting convened in Chennai last week, where representatives of various political parties and traders union also participated and extended their support. Except for left parties and MDMK, all the major political parties including DMK lend their support.

Only later did they realise that the bandh fell on a public holiday - Krishna Jayandhi. Following this, it was decided to postpone the protest to August 30.

Explaining the objective of the bandh, he said the Centre should find an early solution with regard to inter-state water disputes including Mullaiperiyar, Cauvery and Palar. He also stated that the state government should urge the Centre to ensure release of water due to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka, at least for Samba crop cultivation.

At the press conference held here, Pandian also extended the association's moral support to their protest to be held on Friday. It is to be noted that during the meeting in Chennai, Pandian had appealed the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association affiliated to left parties not to go ahead with the August 19 protest and join hands with Farmers' Coordination Committee for the August 25 bandh.