Farmers lay siege to Tiruchuli taluk office protesting against permission granted for stone quarry in Vadapalai

Hundreds of farmers from over 15 villages laid siege to Tiruchuli taluk office protesting against the permission granted for establishing a stone quarry and crusher unit at Vadapalai on Thursday.

The protest was led by Southern Districts Farmers’ Association.

The farmers demanded that the permission given for the quarry and the crusher unit be revoked to safeguard air and water in the 15 villages around Vadapalai.

Stating that the villages were mainly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, the protester said that the quarry would badly affect agricultural land. Besides, the dust emitted by the quarry and crusher unit would pollute waterbodies and air. It would also lead to depletion of groundwater table in the region which was relying on lift irrigation for cultivation.

Farmers leader R. Ram Pandian, A. Gopalakrishnan, and Arjunan, and representatives of various political parties addressed the protesters.

The agitators later submitted a petition pressing for their demands to the Tiruchuli Tahsildar Karuppasamy.