September 9, 2015
S. PRASAD
The Hindu
People stage a protest at Annapanpettai near Chidambaram on Tuesday. (Right) Police personnel deployed in full strength. Photos: Special Arrangement The Hindu
CUDDALORE: Over 200 residents of 30 villages on Tuesday staged a protest at sea for over two hours against commissioning of a textile processing park at Annapanpettai near Chidambaram in the district. The agitators claimed the park coming up at Periyapet would lead to severe pollution resulting in irreparable damage to environment and affect the livelihood of farmers and fishermen in 30 villages near the site.
The parks water requirement would be met by sinking borewells. A few villages have already been affected by depleting groundwater levels and the commissioning of the park would aggravate the situation. The effluents from the park would also be released into the sea. This would affect marine ecology of the coast, a spokesperson of SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitor (SACEM) said.
According to SACEM, textile units in Erode and Coimbatore regions had been looking for a suitable place for disposing effluents. Air and water pollution had already reached a point of saturation and the release of effluents from the textile park would aggravate the situation.
The villagers raised slogans against the State government and urged it to scrap the project immediately.
The textile park is being set up by Southern India Mills Association, at a cost of Rs.500 crore.