Cuddalore, 11 October 2007: Residents of more than 25 villages organised a public meeting in Samiarpettai and resolved not to give up their land for any industrial proposal that would threaten their livelihood and lives. More than 500 residents including the women shelf help groups participated in the meeting and took the resolution. They also announced that they will continue their agitation till the government withdraws all the proposals to set up polluting and water intensive units in the region. Sighting examples of the environmental conditions in the neighbouring SIPCOT villages, the residents said that they do not wish to have a similar future by allowing the proposed polluting facilities to come up in their area. The residents also mentioned that they had recently met the District Collector in this regard and have conveyed their opposition to him.
The Cuddalore coast is the prime target for new and polluting industrial projects including a refinery, a textile park and a shipbuilding yard.