Residents from the villages surrounding Nochikadu protested by hoisting black flags at homes and key locations, opposing the government's move to acquire land to set up a new industrial park in the area adjoining the Cuddalore SIPCOT industrial estate.
Numerous chemical and industrial companies are operating in the SIPCOT industrial estate located on the Cuddalore-Chidambaram road.
In this situation, it is said that the Tamil Nadu government is taking steps to establish a new industrial park in the area adjoining the SIPCOT industrial estate. It is planned to acquire around 450 acres of land for this purpose, and various villages under panchayats including Kudikadu, Nochikkadu, and Thiyavalli have been selected for this.
The opposition from the people of more than 10 villages, including Nochikadu, under the panchayats of Thyagavalli, Kudikadu and others, against the government's plan to acquire land for the SIPCOT industrial park is continuing to intensify. In continuation of this, in protest against the government's land acquisition move, the public in Nochikadu and surrounding villages tied black flags at their homes and in important areas and took part in the protest.
At that time, the government should not undertake actions in the name of industrial development that affect agricultural lands and residential areas. Before acquiring land, it should fully hear the views of the concerned people and conduct a detailed study on environmental and livelihood impacts.
Furthermore, steps should be taken to study alternative sites and establish an industrial park in a way that does not affect agricultural lands. The protesting farmers also insisted that Government Order 165 should be revoked and that the livelihoods of farmers must be protected.
Regarding this, farmer Narayanasamy said, “Due to the expansion of the SIPCOT industrial park, various crops that farmers have been cultivating for a long time, including paddy, groundnut, and vetiver, will be affected. With agricultural lands being taken away, there is a risk that farming will be completely affected.
Moreover, not only agricultural lands, but also residences, places used by the public, and the livelihoods of people dependent on agriculture will be affected. Government Order No. 165, which paves the way for land acquisition for the industrial park, should be revoked. Along with immediately abandoning the land acquisition process, the government should take steps to protect agricultural lands.
Residents of the area said they have been facing various problems related to the environment and livelihoods due to the chemical factories operating in the Cuddalore SIPCOT area, and that if more land is acquired and new industries are set up at this time, environmental damage will increase and agriculture will be severely affected,” he said.
Opposing the government's move to acquire land for a new industrial park in the area adjacent to the Cuddalore SIPCOT industrial estate, residents from the villages surrounding Nochikadu staged a protest by hoisting black flags at their homes and key locations.