Tata146;s Tamil Nadu project runs into opposition from villagers

On August 10, little-known Sattankulam town in backward Tuticorin district of south Tamil Nadu will see hundreds of villagers go on a fast to oppose a move by the Tata Group to acquire about 11,000 acres...

On August 10, little-known Sattankulam town in backward Tuticorin district of south Tamil Nadu will see hundreds of villagers go on a fast to oppose a move by the Tata Group to acquire about 11,000 acres spread across 40 coastal hamlets for its Rs 2,500-crore titanium-dioxide project.

The agitating villagers, represented by the Then Mavatta Theri Nila Paathugaapu Sangam Federation for Protection of Coastal Land in Southern Districts and the Consumer Protection Forum of Sattankumal, have expressed apprehensions that nearly a lakh families would be displaced due to the proposed project, which would 8220;rapidly deplete ground water8221;.

Consumer Forum secretary Rex Sandana Ravi told The Indian Express that he had information that the Tahsildar had submitted a list containing details of 90,000 patta holders covering eight revenue villages to the Tuticorin District Collector. 8220;At least 60 villages will be affected. We will not submit quietly. We are going to fight it tooth and nail,8221; he warned.

Political parties have also joined in the outcry with MDMK8217;s Vaiko and actor Vijaykant, heading the DMDK, describing it as 8220;a situation similar to Nandigram8221;. PMK leader Dr S Ramadoss, an ally of the ruling DMK, has also promised to back the agitating groups.

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa on Sunday said she would lead an agitation against the project 8220;as it is a bid to destroy the livelihood of farmers8221;. Her party would hold a massive agitation, demanding that the project be dropped, she said, adding that Karunanidhi was trying to 8220;snatch away8221; the lands of poor farmers and give them to rich industrialists.

Tata Steel signed a memorandum of understanding with Tamil Nadu Government on June 28 to set up an integrated titanium dioxide manufacturing facility in Tuticorin district at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore. It would also extend to one village in Tirunelveli district.

The project envisages mining and mineral separation, besides value addition to synthetic rutile and titanium dioxide or pigment, a key ingredient for the paint industry. It would be implemented over a period of six years. The company would also set up a seawater desalination plant and a power plant for the project.

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Tata Steel had signed an MoU with the Jayalalithaa Government in 2002 for a techno-economic feasibility study for setting up the project using mineral sands in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. The company completed the feasibility study, but land acquisition proved to be the big hindrance. In a statement here, Jayalalithaa said she had rejected the proposal as it was against the welfare of the people and farmers.

According to the agitating groups, the company had managed to acquire only 50 acres in Pudukulam and Thachamozhi villages, about 5 km from Sattankulam, 8220;giving a low price to the villagers.8221; The project is expected to generate employment opportunities directly for 1,000 people and indirectly for 3,000 people.

Meanwhile, worried by the protests, the DMK Government has assured the villagers that those giving land for the project would be 8220;protected8221;. The Government urged people 8220;not to be fooled by false propaganda and oppose economic growth in backward districts8221;.