Cuddalore, 10 January 2014: Around 400 residents for more than 20 villages around proposed SIMA Textile Park today protested near the office of the District Collector opposing the proposal to set up a textile park near their villages. Residents of Periyapattu, Periyandikuzhi, Chinnandikuzhi, Gopalapuram, Vandiyampallam, Sandrormedu, Andarmullipalayam, Silambimangalam, Kayalpattu, Thazhanchavadi, Poochimedu, Puthiraveli, Villiyanallur, Samiyarpettai, Kumarapettai, Madavappallam, Annappanpettai, Reddiyarpettai, Ayyampettai, Pettodai, Periyakuppam, Puthuchathiram, Thatchampalayam and other neighbouring villages shouted slogans against the project and also sent off as many as 10,000 letters of opposition to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Their letters detailed the ecological importance of their region and the fact that the proporsed SIMA Park will not only destroy their environment but also their livelihoods.
Members of civil society and local environmental groups from Cuddalore district also gave their support to the villagers. Some of the prominent persons were: Mr. Maruthavanan, General secretary of Cuddalore Residential welfare Association, Mr. M Nizamudeen, General Ssecretary of Tamilnadu Consumer Federation, Members of SACEM, Mr. Mathavan and Mr.Ramesh Babu from CPM and Mr. Baranidharan from project area.
