Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko on Saturday began a 10-day padayatra from Madurai to Cumbum, along with party cadre, to raise public awareness against the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project, proposed at Pottipuram in Theni district.
Inaugurating the padayatra in the presence of leaders of political parties and NGOs, DMK working president M.K. Stalin accused the Union government of thrusting several ‘harmful’ projects, including the INO, upon Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Stalin accused the Centre of being hypocritical by stating that it was opposed to the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project to protect the “mythical Ram Setu”, while at the same time proposing the INO project, which would affect the ecologically significant Western Ghats.
Mr. Vaiko contended that if the INO project was implemented, Madurai and surrounding districts, which rely on water from the Mullaperiyar dam, will be deprived of that source.
“The blasting [of rocks] to be carried out on the mountains would demolish the Idukki Dam, the Mullaperiyar Dam and several buildings in Theni,” he alleged.
Cadre immolates self
A. Ravi alias Sivakasi Ravi, 45, a member of the MDMK, set himself on fire on Saturday at the venue where Mr. Vaiko began his yatra.
He had sustained more than 90% burns, hospital sources said.
