Human chain planned to protest building of dam across River Siruvani

Coimbatore: Major political parties and outfits will form a human chain on June 25 in Coimbatore, as part of a series of agitations to protest Kerala's move to build a dam across the Siruvani river, the major drinking water source to Coimbatore.

K Ramakrishnan, General Secretary, Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, told reporters in Coimbatore that a decision to this effect was taken at an all-party meeting last night to decide a plan of action, following reports that Kerala Government has decided to revive its 30-year old proposal to build a dam across the river, to store four TMC of water.

The move, he said, would affect irrigation needs in thousands of acres in Tirupur, Erode and Coimbatore districts.

Though farmers had thwarted an earlier attempt to build a check dam at Mukkali, the move has 'shocked' citizens of this city and also farmers of three nearby districts, he said.

It was also proposed to convene a meeting of all MPs and MLAs from Coimbtore, Erode and Tirupur districts to chalk out the future strategy if Kerala refused to budge, he said.

Representatives of DMK, CPI, CPIM, Viduthalai Chirutaigal Katchi, PMK and a few other like-minded organisations participated in the meeting.

Efforts are on to garner the support of ruling AIADMK, DMDK, Congress, BJP and Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhakam, he said.