Opposing the entry of fireworks unit planned to be built in Vaiyyur village in Thirumangalam Taluk in Madurai district, a large number of women and farmers resorted to a sit-in protest in Madurai on Wednesday (October 1, 2025).
Joining the agitators, AIADMK MLA and Deputy Leader in the Assembly R.B. Udayakumar said that the villagers had submitted petitions to the Madurai Collector appealing to stop giving licence to the fireworks unit here.
They had mentioned that the fireworks unit may, over a period, spoil the eco-system as over 11000 acres of land, which raised millets and short-term crops may have to stop their activities. The water table would gradually decrease and the habitations in and around Vaiyur may turn dry and wear like a desert in a decade.
Apprehending such a threat, the villagers objected to it and waited with patience that their grievance would be redressed favourably.
However, according to the villagers, the revenue officials have recommended to the authorities for setting up fireworks unit, with guidelines by the apex court and as per the PESO norms. The private fireworks unit have started preliminary exercise for construction of sheds, they claimed.
The AIADMK MLA said that the party was not opposed to industries coming up, but they were welcome to set up non-hazardous units and in lands, which were not fit for cultivation. Only industries can address the unemployment issue, but not at the cost of spoiling the environment and also the prospects of hundreds of farm labourers.
The TN government should immediately stop the permission and cancel the licence, if any given, Mr Udayakumar said and added that the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, would directly intervene into the issue.
The DMK government, if failed to address the burning issue, would have to face the public wrath in the ensuing general election in 2026, he said.
A peace committee meeting was to be held by the officials following the agitation and the villagers said that they would go to any extremes to save the eco-system. There shall not be any compromise as it would spoil the environment, they added.
Published – October 01, 2025 05:07 pm IST
