Thousands of farmers in Cauvery delta districts in Tamil Nadu picketed road and rail traffic at various places, demanding that Karnataka release water from its dams for long-term samba paddy crop.
The farmers, owing allegiance to various associations and backed by political parties, including DMK and Congress, staged demonstrations at various places in the districts, including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Tiruchirappalli.
Police said the protesters were detained and were likely to be let off later in the day.
The farmers' stir comes days after Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court, seeking realese of 50 tmc ft of water fromKarnataka to meet its irrigation demands after it expressed its inability to release water as per the Cauvery water dispute tribunal's final award, citing low storage in its dams.
A delegation of farmers from Tamil Nadu had last week met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking release of water, but the latter told them it was not possible due to failure of monsoon in his state and poor storage levels in dams across the river Cauvery.
Delta farmers are facing a bleak scenario in view of non release of water from Mettur dam, which is usually done in June every year, due to poor storage.
Congress and DMK party workers also participated in the picketing programmes at various districts.
A report from Namakkal, a major trucking hub in the country, said lorry operators kept off the roads expressing solidarity with the farmers.
In Coimbatore district some 20,000 lorries remained off the roads, the local Lorry Owners Association said.
In Chennai, a large number of farmers and workers of Opposition parties staged a protest at Egmore Railway station.
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