Date:10/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/10/stories/2009011060680100.htm

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Villagers against paper mill in their midst

Staff Reporter

PALANI: Farmers from Kottathurai panchayat and neighbouring villages took out a rally here and staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Revenue Divisional Officer on Friday demanding cancellation of licence given to a private paper mill to be set up at Kalthurai Pudur.

The rally started at Government Hospital and reached the RDO’s office. Establishing a paper mill would adversely affect the environment and agriculture activities in 20 villages, including Kalthurai, Kottathurai, Vattamalaipudur, Perichipalayam, Andinaickanvalasu, Alangiyam, Kongur, Undarpatti, Vellaigoundenvalasu, Manakadavu, Karupaiavalasu, Keeranur, Velur and Velkaraipatti, they alleged. This would also pollute the ground water. Over 2,000 hectares of cultivable land would turn barren and ultimately production of food grains would come to a halt.

Already, Vayalur and neighbouring villages had been adversely affected owing to industrial pollution. Ground water in Pushpathur, Midapadi and Muthunaikanpatii panchayat remained affected. Agriculture activities had been paralysed in these areas. Health of people was also affected, they said. “We have already lost 42 acres of agriculture land at Kalthurai,” a farmer said. The government must cancel the licence for mill and the Kottathurai panchayat withdraw a resolution passed by it in this connection, they said.