Thanjavur: The All Farmers’ Associations and Agriculture Workers’ Associations have announced a rail roko in the six Delta districts – Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Cuddalore – on September 20 urging the Centre to immediately constitute Cauvery Management Board and demanding that Karnataka release more water.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at the state consultative meeting of all farmers associations and agriculture workers associations in Thanjavur today with Tamil Nadu Farmers Association general secretary Durai Manickam in the chair.

DMK farmers’ wing state secretary and former MP K P Ramalingam, in his address said that the apex court on September 5 had ordered Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. “But it has now been reduced to 12,000 cusecs due to non-constitution of Cauvery Management Board,” he alleged.

Durai Manickam said the farmers and agriculture workers would resort to rail roko on September 20 urging the Centre to immediately constitute Cauvery Management Board as per the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. And urging the Karnataka to increase the quantum of water being released to Tamil Nadu. The agitators also would besiege the collector’s office in the six districts, he added.