Members of various farmers associations, political parties, industrial associations and general public observed a fast here on Tuesday urging the Centre to prevent the Kerala Government’s move to construct a dam across Siruvani River in Attapadi. Senior functionaries of various political parties including Erode MP A. Ganesamurthy and former Union Minister Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan took part in the protest which was led by Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam district president E. R. Kumarasamy. The members condemned the Central Government for its ‘indifference’ to the problems faced by the farmers in Tamil Nadu. Mr. Ganesamurthy said that people in Erode, Tirupur and Coimbatore districts would be deprived of water for irrigation if the Kerala Government built a dam across the river. The move should be prevented to protect the interests of the farming community in the State. Other speakers wanted the Centre to sort out all the water sharing disputes between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The government should ensure the rights of the farmers in Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery, Palar, Mullai Periyar, Amaravathi and Bhavani rivers. The agitators also wanted the Tamil Nadu Government to divert the Pandiyar-Punnapuzha waters for irrigation in the State. Pandiyar and Punnapuzha are the tributaries of Chaliyar originating in Tamil Nadu and flowing in Kerala. The farmers also urged the Central and State governments to initiate efforts to link the rivers in Southern India, which they termed as a long-term solution to the water disputes among the Southern States.