Mass rail blockades by opposition parties and farmers continued for the second day today at various places across the State over the Cauvery issue, with police detaining Tamil Maanila Congress leader G.K. Vasan and about 300 farmers for staging protests in Thanjavur.

Leading an agitation at the Egmore station in Chennai, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and VCK chief Thol.

Thirumavalavan, along with several workers including those from the Left parties, blocked an express train.

The two leaders climbed onto the railing of an engine and raised slogans against the Centre for not setting up the Cauvery Management Board.

Protests were held at the Central station too. It was led by Naam Tamizhar Katchi leader Seeman. He, along with his supporters, were later taken away by the police.

Similar protests witnessed huge participation of people in the Delta region Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur districts. Scores of farmers and members of political parties were arrested at different places for attempting to block rail traffic.

While in Tiruchirappalli district, about 300 farmers were apprehended for blocking the Vaigai Express bound for Chennai, at Pullampadi station. A heavy posse of police personnel had been deployed at several stations including Madurai, to prevent any untoward incident.

In Madurai, police outnumbered the agitators and security barricades were erected to prevent agitators from entering the station.

The Supreme Court-appointed high-level technical team, formed to inspect the Cauvery basin to assess the ground realities in both the States, had yesterday submitted its report to the Court.

The report had suggested doing away with “outdated and unscientific water application techniques” to resolve the wrangle, saying both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were facing water shortage, creating unemployment and financial hardship for the people.

The committee’s report will come up for perusal during the hearing on the Cauvery dispute in the apex court today.