Chennai, March 27 (BPNS)
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) youth wing leader and former Union minister, Anbumani Ramadoss has said that not a single inch of land would be given for the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd( NLCIL). He was addressing a public meeting at Siruvappur village in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
The PMK leader said that the NLCIL was in the process of acquiring 25000 acres of land from 49 villages in Cuddalore district for its proposed Mines 1 and Mines II expansion and Mines III project.
He said that the NLCIL had acquired 36000 acres of land when it commenced its operations in 1956 and said that NLCL could make use of the existing land available for further expansion process.
The former Union minister said that the existing coal reserves in NLCIL will exist for more than 30 years and hence no land was necessary for future projects.
The PMK youth wing leader had met agriculturalists and farmers and ascertained their views before attending the public programme regarding objection to the NLCIL land acquisition programme.
Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said that the degradation of environment and land degradation commenced after the NLCIL set foot in the district and said that it had sucked groundwater out for its projects. He said that the depth in groundwater levels has seen a steep decrease from 8 feet fourty years ago to 800-1200 feet now.
The senior leader charged that while NLCIL was netting an annual profit of 11,500 crores, it has not given back anything to the district. He said that the PSU was yet to regularize the service of contract workmen even after Supreme Court directive.
He said that even after the PSU was based in the state and continued to acquire land for its upcoming projects, a large number of workers were from North Indian states like Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Chattisgarh but the people of Tamil Nadu were led down by the PSU in providing employment.
The PMK leader also said that the people of the area were not willing to accept the promises made by the NLCIL and added that the party is supportive of development but not at the cost of agriculture.
He also said that the presence of two thermal plants has resulted in the deterioration of the air quality in Cuddalore district and a large number of people are affected by asthma and other health problems.
