RailEnquiry

Eighty farmers including 10 women from Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, led by S.A. Chinnasamy, were arrested when they attempted to block trains in Hosur on Monday demanding that the State government restrain the Karnataka government’s initiative to pump water from South Pennar River to Kolar region for irrigation.Addressing at the agitation in front of the Hosur Railway Station, Mr. Chinnasamy said that the Karnataka government had violated the two agreements signed between the States during 1892 and 1933 which stated that without the consent of Tamil Nadu no new water scheme would be implemented.Mr. Chinnasamy alleged that the Karnataka government had launched a mega scheme to pump water from the South Pennar with a view to filling up 130 lakes in Kolar district.If the project took off in full swing, the five districts of Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Villupuram would be affected badly, as these districts were depending on South Pennar River for irrigation and drinking water purposes.The groundwater table would go down drastically in these districts, Mr. Chinnasamy added.He urged the State government to intervene in the issue and protect the interest of the farmers over South Pennar River.The arrested persons were released in the evening.