Tiruvannamalai farmers protest decision to resume work on eight-lane project

Citing the elections, the Rs 10,000-crore project connecting Salem and Chennai, proposed by the Central and State governments, was temporarily suspended. Chief Minister Palaniswami had recently stated in his speech that the project was opposed by only seven per cent of the farmers and added that the project would be resumed soon. However, the farmers alleged that the project would adversely affect agriculture in the areas where the project passes through, hence affecting the economy of the region.

It may be recalled that when Revenue officials forcefully entered farm land to plant boundary stones, some farmers had slit wrists and jumped into wells in protest to stop the project. Farmers had also boycotted the public hearing.

Talking to DT Next, anti-green corridor project coordinator S Abiraman said, “The CM is talking of reviving the project despite the High Court directing the government to return to the farmers the land taken for the project. On April 4, the court had given eight weeks for this. But as the election process intervened, the period was extended till June end for completion of this work.”

When asked how farmers would react to the Chief Minister’s statement, Abiraman said nearly 9,000 affected farmers would issue notices to the government warning it of initiating contempt proceedings. “If they persist, then all the farmers will move contempt proceedings against the government,” he said. While the CPM backed the agitation, the DMK had repeatedly voiced its objections during the recent campaign. Farmers are hoping that the DMK and allies would raise the matter in the Parliament so as to return their lands.