For the 97th day, more than 400 people have been protesting in front of the Palladam tahsildar's office, demanding the dismantling of an iron smelter in Anupatti village near Palladam that was built without obtaining building permission from the panchayat administration.
Tirupur: Today was the 97th day of a continuous protest at the Taluk Office in Tirupur demanding the removal of an iron smelter operating without licence near Palladam.
Kiskal, an iron smelter that melts old iron products, is functioning in the village of Anupatti, near Palladam. Residents of Anapatti village have been protesting continuously for the past 97 days, demanding that the steel plant be permanently closed since it pollutes the environment.
Palladam Tahsildar had ordered the temporary closure of the plant based on the evidence given by the villagers that the plant was functioning without obtaining a proper licence in his talks with the protesting villagers.
They have been protesting for the past 97 days, demanding that the plant be permanently closed due to pollution of water bodies, which causes environmental pollution and ailments such as shortness of breath and cancer in the vicinity.
The plant's operation, which had been halted for a few days owing to public objections, has resumed, saying that it has secured the necessary approvals.
Because the plant was functioning without getting building licence from the panchayat administration, the Anupatti panchayat issued a notice to demolish the plant's buildings. However, the factory has resumed operations despite the panchayat administration's order.
More than 400 villagers from Anupatti, Panikkampatti, Arakulam, Ayyampalayam, Puliyampatti, Karadivavi, and the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association are protesting in front of the Palladam taluk office, demanding that the plant be permanently shut down.
Advocate Easan Murugasamy, founder of the Tamil Nadu Farmers' Protection Association, told reporters:
Despite the 97-day-long public agitation, the Palladam Block Development Officer and the Pollution Control Board officials have given permission for the Kiskal steel plant, which is causing damage to the environment by accepting bribes.
The iron smelter, which is operating without building authorization from the panchayat administration, should be permanently shut down, and the authorities who granted approval for the illegal facility should be arrested and imprisoned.
This is exactly what he stated.
The protest is continuing as none of the officials have come to hold talks with the protesting public.