12 October 2007
Special Correspondent
The Hindu
“G.O. on sale of land against democratic principles”
CUDDALORE: The people of at least 20 villages led by T.Velmurugan, MLA and deputy general secretary of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate here on Thursday.
They were protesting against the proposal to set up a private thermal power plant at Thiagavalli for which the land acquisition process had been initiated.
The speakers pointed out that the government order directing the villagers not to sell or mortgage their property to persons other than the Cuddalore Power Company, promoter of the project, was violating the democratic principles.
They also noted that the government had given specific instructions to the Sub-Registrar’s office at Thirupadiripuliyur here (where property transactions of Thiagavalli and nearby villages ought to be registered) not to register any sale or purchase deeds from these places. They noted that land was the only source upon which they could fall back upon during exigencies. Imposing such stifling restrictions was tantamount to denying them the ownership rights.
Residents of villages such as Thiagavalli, Nochikadu, Naduthittu, Chithirapettai, Tammanampettai, Naickerpettai, Nanjalingampettai, Sonachavadi and so on participated.
Meanwhile, the Thiagavalli panchayat convened by its president S.Devanathan had passed a resolution urging the government to give up the project proposal.
In another resolution it urged the government to lift the restrictions on the disposal of the villagers’ property.
It stated that the villagers had resolved to surrender their ration cards and launch a non-cooperation movement in the implementation of the government schemes, if the authorities went ahead with the project.