Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders Monday began a day-long fast in different parts of the state to draw the Centre's attention towards the controversial Mullaperiyar Dam issue.
Speaking to media before starting the fast at Tambaram, near Chennai, former deputy chief minister and DMK leader M K Stalin asked the people of Kerala not to play with false propaganda about the safety of the dam.
The DMK is demanding deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force at the dam. The party is demanding the water storage level to be raised to 142 feet from 136 feet in accordance with the 2006 Supreme Court order.
Inaugurating the fast, DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan said the party would organize a human chain Wednesday in various districts, including Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, Dindugal and Ramanathapuram.
The fast will end at 5 pm with DMK chief and former chief minister M. Karunanidhi addressing the party workers at the party headquarters in Chennai.
The 116-year-old dam located in the Idukki district of central Kerala caters to the water needs of the people of several districts of Tamil Nadu. Kerala has raised concerns over the safety of the dam, but Tamil Nadu disagrees.
