‘Reopen Sterlite’ Tuticorin Villagers Demand

In a new twist to Sterlite controversy people from various villages of Tuticorin district have petitioned the district authorities to reopen the Sterlite plant, Tamil media outlet Dinathanthi has reported.

The government had announced the permanent closing of the plant after a prolonged agitation by various outfits which ultimately ended in mob violence leading to 13 deaths on 22 May. Since then people belonging to various villages in the district, including the local protesters, have been blaming a radical left organisations for inciting violence and misdirecting people.

Meanwhile in a separate petition the lorry owners association of Tuticorin had stated that due to the intervention and instigation of outside forces the violent protests had led to the closure of the plant which in turn had severely affected their business and livelihood. They further contested the claim of pollution by the protesters and stated that the result of the protest has been that the livelihood and employments of hundreds of people in Tuticorin have been snatched away and destroyed. They too have demanded that the plant be reopened.