The General Secretary of Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi E.R. Eashwaran on Sunday said he wanted Environment Minister Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam to spell out his stand on Tamil Nadu Government’s ‘Red Carpet’ welcome to a beverage company in the SIPCOT Industrial Complex at Perundurai, the latter’s constituency, despite the multi-national company being forced to move out of other States.
Leading a fast in Perundurai demanding exit of the multi-national company from the town, Mr. Eashwaran said letting the company “damage” land, air and water sources would be tantamount to rubbing salt into the wounds of farmers from whom land had been acquired for starting the industrial estate with the promise that heavy industries would be started and employment opportunities would be generated.
Curbs imposed by the Police department on the conduct of the demonstration signified the resolve of the Environment Minister to facilitate the multi-national company to establish its bottling unit, Mr. Eashwaran said, reminding the Government about “rising incidence of cancer, disabilities and skin ailments” among the people of Perundurai, “due to the presence of polluting units”.
Permitting the beverage company to have its unit in Perundurai would lead to “desertification of the place”, he said, calling for a formal statement from the Environment Minister on the issue.
Announcing the party’s resolve to sustain its campaign, Mr. Eashwaran, however added that the KMDK will eschew protests if the Government takes a stand, factoring in the concerns of locals.
According to police sources, more than 600 persons took part in the protest with their mouths gagged with black cloths.
