Tamil Nadu BJP Farmers Start Indefinite Hunger Strike Over Delayed Water Project

The Tamil Nadu BJP farmers' wing is initiating an indefinite hunger strike from August 20, demanding the state government to accelerate the completion of the Athikadavu-Avinashi project. This project aims to improve groundwater and drinking water supply in three districts. Other demands include pipeline usage rights and swift compensation for farmers.

The Tamil Nadu BJP farmers' wing will launch an indefinite hunger strike from August 20, urging the state government to expedite the completion of the Athikadavu-Avinashi project. The project, initially set to launch in 2022, aims to enhance groundwater and drinking water supply in Coimbatore, Erode, and Thiruppur districts, state chief K Annamalai announced on Saturday.

Annamalai criticized the government's repeated delays, noting that various state officials, including Chief Minister M K Stalin, had announced different launch dates, none of which materialized. 'State Ministers and even Chief Minister M K Stalin announced various dates and the Public Works Department officials announced that trial run was on, but it has not materialised so far,' he told reporters at Perundurai.

In response, the BJP will start its protest on August 20, with Annamalai participating on the first day. Thereafter, the party's farmers' wing president G K Nagarajan will lead the indefinite fast along with other farmers. Their demands also include granting pipeline usage rights to landowners, settling compensation to farmers within a week, and forming a TN State Dam Safety Committee to ensure dam safety, upkeep, and monitoring.