The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has passed an order staying forthwith the protest being indulged in by Tamil Nadu farmers at the national capital’s Jantar Mantar.

Pressing implementation of their various demands including setting up a Cauvery Management Board, waiving off of all agricultural loans, etc., Tamil Nadu’s farmers had earlier held a 40-day long protest in the national capital from April this year. They called off their protest temporarily after Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswamy, Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin and Union Road Transport Minister Pon Radhakrishnan met them and assured that their demands would be met.

They waited for a few weeks before returning to Delhi again a few weeks back to kick-start their second spell of their protest. The relay protests, headed by Ayyakkannu, have been going on for 82 days. They even attempted to lay siege to the Prime Minister’s Office but were restrained by security forces.

In the meantime, a public interest litigation (PIL) petition was filed with the NGT requesting it to stay the farmers’ protest as their protests have been harming not only the prevailing environment at Jantar Mantar but was also causing noise pollution. Taking up the case, the Tribunal passed an order staying the protests besides ordering removal of the tents/speakers erected at the protest spot.