Demand to shut fish processing unit intensifies

With the monsoon season about to start, the residents of Adiyakurichi complain that the stench from the plant has already become unbearably high. Having gone through the ordeal every monsoon season over the years, they demand that district administration should take steps to immediately shutdown the plant for the welfare of people of Udangudi before the onset of rains. 

The residents have reasons to believe that the fish processing plant would cause health related problems to people in the neighbourhood. On Saturday, a driver of a private lorry while driving past the plant experienced nausea and vomiting owing to the foul smell from the plant. 

In another incident on Saturday, residents of Mariammalpuram in Udangudi experienced bad odour emanating from the plant. The two incidents have made residents of Udangudi worried about the possible hazards due to the presence of the fish processing unit in the locality. Environmental activist Gunaseelan, a member of AAP and resident of Udangudi, claimed that they had formed a committee to protest against the plant and added that there was no reaction from district administration. 

Even Tiruchendur MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan joined them in the protest against the plant. The plant has been set up flouting all the rules and causing environmental degradation, complain residents. “The unprocessed water from the plant is let out directly into the nearby farm lands, destroying the fertility of the lands. 

The odour emanating from the plant is causing immense health problem to the people of Udangudi and the children are the worst-affected. The future generation would witness severe lung related problems if the plant is allowed to operate in Udangudi,” claimed Gunaseelan.