Cases against Athikadavu-Avinashi project protesters yet to be dropped

Tirupur: Work on the much-awaited Athikadavu-Avinashi groundwater recharge and potable water scheme is all set to commence soon, but 20 crusaders of the project are left to struggle with the government yet to withdraw cases against them for staging hunger strike.
They said the cases were affecting their lives - while one is facing issues in obtaining passport, another one could not renew his gun licence.

Earlier, when the government had not taken any concrete step to implement the project, 10 people had staged a hunger strike in front of Avinashi Lingeshwar temple on Coimbatore road at Avinashi on November 27, 2015, without obtaining police permission. They were arrested and released on the same day.

Following this, 14 people sat on fast in front of Avinashi new bus stand for 12 days from February 8, 2016, until the government sanctioned Rs 3.27 crore for initiating the project feasibility study. The stir was the turning point for the project, for which chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami laid foundation stone on Thursday.

Avinashi police had booked 20 protesters under Sections 147, 188, and 341 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the cases are yet to be tried before the Avinashi judicial magistrate court.

“While our demand to implement the project has been accepted, it is unfortunate that the government hasn’t withdrawn the cases against us,” said D Prabakaran, one of the affected.

Struggle committee of the project had represented the issue before the higher government authorities many times and though they were promised that the cases would be withdrawn, nothing has happened on the ground.

Speaking to reporters, even the CM had on Thursday said “the government would consider withdrawing the cases”.

When the issue was raised at the farmers’ grievance meeting on Friday, collector K S Palanisamy had asked the 20 to come for a separate discussion and assured to take appropriate action.