Protest Held Against Sipcot Estate in Uthiramerur

Chennai: Villagers at Uthiramerur on Tuesday held protest demonstrations against the setting up of Sipcot industrial estate in the area alleging that more than 800 acres of agricultural lands and water bodies would be affected by the scheme.

The villagers along with farmers’ organisations carried out protest demonstrations before the Kanchipuram Collector’s office. The previous government had decided to set up the Sipcot park in an area of 800 acres. When the farmers opposed the project, the government did not start the project.

However, the new government decided to pursue the project and the officials started the arrangements. The project covers lands at four villages Marudham, Thirupulivanam, Pulivai and Karuveppam Poondi in Uthiramerur taluk. The farmers said the land allocated for the project includes agricultural lands and water bodies. They said fertile lands and water bodies would be ruined by the project.

However, the officials did not consider their opposition and carried on with their preliminary works. Opposing the scheme, the villagers and farmers’ bodies held a protest in front of the Kanchipuram Collector’s office on Tuesday. They warned that they would expand the agitations if the project was not dropped.