The Communist Party of India (CPI) has thrown its weight behind the October 11 bandh organised by the Cauvery Delta Protection Movement in Tamil Nadu. This protest action is in response to the continued non-release of Cauvery river water by the Karnataka government, which has left delta farmers grappling with severe water shortages, imperiling their crops.R. Mutharasan, the State Secretary of CPI, issued a statement expressing the party’s solidarity with the delta farmers. He emphasized that the bandh is a reflection of the deep-seated concerns and grievances of the farmers who have been witnessing their crops wither away due to the insufficient availability of water.
Adding to the complexities of the matter, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has recently reduced the quantity of Cauvery water to be released to Tamil Nadu, exacerbating the state’s water woes.
The Cauvery Delta Protection Movement has expressed its disappointment with the BJP-led central government for its failure to effectively intervene on behalf of Tamil Nadu in securing its rightful share of Cauvery water. Furthermore, the movement has criticized Karnataka’s steadfast refusal to release the water, despite the clear directives of the Supreme Court.
In response to these grievances, the farmers’ association has called for a comprehensive bandh in the delta districts and four neighboring districts on October 11. The “total bandh” is slated to take place in Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai, as well as in Pudukottai, Tiruchi, Ariyalur, and Cuddalore districts.