KRISHNAGIRI: No new dam has been built in Tamil Nadu since the construction of the Krishnagiri Reservoir Project (KRP) dam in 1957 when K Kamaraj was the chief minister of the state, DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth said on Monday. She condemned the Davidian parties that ruled the state over the years for what she called their failure to build new dams.She alleged that the present leaders were misappropriating public funds without maintaining dams. She said the ruling party was exploiting mineral resources and misleading the people.Premalatha was speaking to reporters after leading a demonstration in Krishnagiri in support of mango farmers who face losses.Premalatha said maintaining mango trees costs Rs 41,000 per acre per month, but farmers earn only Rs 18,000 on an average.“In the same way, people leasing mango farms incur a loss of Rs 53,000 per acre,” she said and urged the state govt to provide a relief of Rs 10,000 per acre to mango farmers.She said farmers were suffering hardships. “Agriculture is the backbone of our nation, and the country’s advancement depends on the progress of its farmers,” she said.She held the DMK govt accountable for the lack of funds for self-help group loans and jewellery loan waivers. “Where the money is being allocated,” she asked.She urged central and state govts to stop their continuous correspondences and instead address the issues faced by the people.During the protest, mango farmers brought an effigy intended for burning. When police requested them to remove it, DMDK members refused, leading to a confrontation between the police and the party supporters. However, the situation was resolved soon.
