Thanjavur: Thousands of farmers and cadres of various political parties in Cauvery delta areas today held agitations against Karnataka government's plan to implement Mekedatu project by constructing two dams across the river Cauvery.
Hundreds of farmers protested despite heavy rains over railway tracks at Thanjavur Railway Station led by MDMK leader Vaiko and cadres of other political parties, police said.
Cauvery is the source of livelihood for the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur and areas around for over thousand years and plans to construct dams across the river would only push them to the edge.
"Over five crore people would be denied drinking water if Cauvery is obstructed," Vaiko said.
Cadres of DMK protested at Thiruvarur Railway Station against the plan of Karnataka government, contending that Cauvery was the source of livelihood for farmers in the delta.
Farmers, leaders and cadres of various political parties held protests in various parts of the Cauvery delta region, including Nagapattinam and Tiruchirapalli.
Railway traffic was affected following the protests, police said, adding, a passenger and an express train from Mayiladuthurai to Tiruchirapalli were delayed, while Cholan Express from Tiruchirapalli to Chennai Egmore was delayed in Thanjavur.
Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court after Karnataka Water Resources Minister Patil's reported speech that the state was planning to implement Mekedatu project by constructing two dams across Cauvery for which it need not get Tamil Nadu's consent.
