About 500 residents of Mudalipalayam, including 300 women, were arrested on Tuesday when they staged a road-blockade protest along Kangayam Road against the disposal of garbage by Tiruppur City Municipal Corporation in an abandoned quarry in Pudupalayam over the last few days.
The civic body has been moving several lorry loads of the garbage stagnating for over a month for disposal in the abandoned quarry. The protesters, mostly consisting of farmers, were engaged in talks by the Nallur police and officials of the Third Zone of the Corporation.
Since the protesters stood their ground, demanding stoppage of the disposal of the garbage forthwith, the police arrested them after a duration of scuffle.
There was commotion when one of the protesters attempted to set himself ablaze after dousing himself with petrol. Police personnel rescued him and arranged for first aid at a hospital. The arrested protesters were housed in a marriage hall.
Extending his support to the protesters, Palladam MLA M.S.M. Anandan of AIADMK staged a sit-in protest at the spot demanding action against the officials who had arrested the protesters. Eventually, the authorities announced release of the protesters.
However, the protesters insisted on an assurance in writing from the civic body that it would desist from dumping garbage in the abandoned quarry. The civic body should abandon its practice of dumping wastes in quarries and explore alternative means for solid waste management, they demanded.
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Published – September 02, 2025 09:17 pm IST
