Chennai, Nov 2 (BPNS)

The opposition AIADMK plagued by internal problems and back-to-back defeats in elections since the 2019 general elections are trying to make the most out of the Mullaperiyar water row with Kerala.

AIADMK Chief coordinator and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O . Panneerselvam in a statement on Monday said that the party would conduct demonstrations in five districts of South Tamil Nadu soon. This is due to the DMK led Tamil Nadu government releasing water from Mullaperiyar dam without the water level touching 140 feet.

Pannerselvam in the statement said that the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, late J. Jayalalithaa had fought a prolonged legal battle in courts of law to raise the water level in Mullaperiyar dam from 136 feet to 142 feet.

Demonstrations and protest marches will be conducted by the AIADMK at Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Madurai, and Theni districts of the state as farmers in these areas are totally dependent on the water from Mullaperiyar dam for their agriculture activities.

Panneerselvam who is trying to re-establish his supremacy among the Thevar community that is predominant in South Tamil Nadu has also taken up the Mullaperiyar issue also as it is a predominantly hot subject affecting the entire southern belt of the state.

In related development farmers, organisations have commenced demonstrations and protests at Theni against the DMK government allowing release of water in Mullaperiyar before it touched 140 feet. The farmers’ organisations under the collective of Vaigai Dam irrigation farmers association leaders met the Theni district collector K.V. Muraleedharan on Monday and petitioned him that Kerala leaders be not allowed in the Mullaperiyar dam campus.

The farmers also wanted the district administration to include farmers of Theni also to monitor the developments related to the Mullaperiyar dam. The farmers demanded that the administration of the Mullaperiyar dam be taken over by the Theni district administration.