The several weeks-long protests by the people of Tuticorin District demanding closure of the polluting and environmentally hazardous Sterite Industries have intensified in recent days.

People from 10 villages have been protesting hard for more than the past two months, demanding closure of Sterlite Industries, a copper factory, blaming the factory of severely denting the ground-water resources and agricultural activities in the neighbouring several acres of land. They also complained that the factory caused cancer, heart-problems and breathing difficulties for children and the elders.

People of Kurarareddiyapuram Village, supported ably by people in the neighbouring villages, have been protesting hard for the past couple of months despite inaction in this regard by the District authorities and the AIADMK-led State Govt. People of these villages, who were denied permission to attend the Collector’s grievance meeting, laid siege to the Collectorate yesterday.

They blocked road at the Tuticorin-Palayamkottai four-lane road, thus throwing vehicular traffic off gear for many hours. District Collector Venkatesh held talks with the striking villagers and assured them that proper legal action would be initiated on the complaints made against Sterlite Industries.