TATA Project-Public opinion contucted
Tuticorin: The high-level team appointed by the State Government to elicit public opinion on the proposed titanium dioxide project began its two-day tour of villages in Sattankulam and Tiruchendur taluks on Monday.The team, comprising Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudy, Minister for Tourism N. Suresh Rajan, Minister for Animal Husbandry P. Geetha Jeevan, Secretaries to the Government for Industries and Revenue Shaktikanta Das and Ambuj Sharma, and Commissioner for Mines and Minerals E. Dasaradhan, conducted public hearing at Kulasekarapattinam, Arasoor-I, Arasoor –II, Naduvakurichi and Sasthavinallor revenue villages.
The public, by and large, welcomed the setting up of the plant at Sattankulam. Most of the residents in the proposed project area expressed their willingness to give their land for the project. They requested the Government not to take away the lands at low prices.Mr. Ponmudy said the Government would ensure that the farmers got the price as per guideline values set by the Government for lands in revenue villages. “The Government will don the role of a negotiator to help the public get attractive prices for their land from the Tata group.” The acquisition would be carried out with the consent of the people and according to the Tamil Nadu Land Acquisition Act for Industrial Purposes.The police arrested 22 persons, including Selvaraj, a councillor of the Sattankulam panchayat union, who tried to disrupt the public hearing at Naduvakurichi.
