Delta region farmers to honour Chief Minister at Tiruvarur soon

“The announcement of the state government to make Cauvery Delta an agriculture protected zone is historic. Farmers in Delta have decided to honour Chief Minister and a function will be held in Tiruvarur soon,” PR Pandian, general secretary, Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam, told DT Next.

Recently, the Chief Minister, in a public meeting, announced that Cauvery Delta would be formed as an agricultural protected zone and following the announcement the state government passed a Bill on the protected zone. After it was made into an Act, state environment department passed an GO on the list of harmful industries prohibited in the protected zone too.

The announcement and subsequent actions were welcomed by the farmers of Cauvery Delta who met Chief Minister Palaniswami and thanked him personally. Now the farmers have decided to honour the Chief Minister, but the date is yet to be finalised for the function.

“The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit Tiruchy on Wednesday and he has agreed to meet us. The date for the function has to be finalised by him and once it is done the function will be held in March,” said Pandian.

Sources in the Secretariat said that Chief Minister is on a state-wide tour from March 5 to 13 for laying foundation stones for various medical colleges and so he is very unlikely to agree in any of the dates in between the state-wide tour.

However, Palaniswami will not be the first Chief Minister to be honoured by Cauvery Delta farmers as late chief minister J Jayalalithaa was honoured in 2013 for persuading the Central government to notify the verdict of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in the Government Gazette.