Latest news with #SIPCOT
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
CM announces Rs 558 crore welfare, key infra projects for Thanjavur including Rs 170 crore paddy warehouse
THANJAVUR: Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a slew of new infrastructure projects for Thanjavur on Monday. These include construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs 42 crore at the Vettaru-Vadavaru River Head (VVR head) in Thenperambur village. The other schemes announced by the CM include widening of the Grand Anaicut canal road between Eachangkottai and Vettikkadu at a cost of Rs 40 crore and the renovation of the Uyyakondan extension canal that passes through several villages in Budalur taluk, at a cost of Rs 15 crore. The other major announcements made at the meeting included a new warehouse for paddy at a cost of Rs 170 crore at Naduvur and creation of SIPCOT industrial estates at Palayappati and Rajamadam. The chief minister also said the work will begin shortly for a fishing jetty for the benefit of Eripurakkarai, Keezhathottam to be constructed at a cost of Rs 32 crore. Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated new buildings constructed at a total cost of Rs 326 crore. He also laid foundation stones for new projects worth Rs 309 crore. Besides, Chief Minister Stalin inaugurated the issuing of various welfare assistance to 2.25 lakh beneficiaries at a total cost of Rs 558 crore.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Perundurai SIPCOT landowners seek compensation as per High Court order
Members of the Perundurai SIPCOT Affected People Welfare Association have urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to ensure compensation for 350 acres acquired in 1991 for the Perundurai SIPCOT project, in line with a Madras High Court order. The members submitted a petition through Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, during the CM's visit to Perundurai on Wednesday. The petition said the State government had acquired 2,709 acres from farmers in Ingur and Perundurai villages three decades ago to establish the SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre. While 2,350 acres were acquired through direct purchase, the remaining 350 acres were acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 through an Award, due to procedural hurdles. For directly purchased land, the compensation paid was ₹60,000 to ₹1.20 lakh per acre in Ingur and ₹1.50 lakh to ₹2 lakh per acre in Perundurai. However, for land acquired through the Award, only ₹29,700 per acre in Ingur and ₹34,100 per acre in Perundurai was paid, the amount deposited in court based on government valuation. Challenging this disparity, affected farmers filed eight cases. The district court ruled in favour of the farmers, ordering enhanced compensation ranging from ₹1.80 lakh to ₹2.50 lakh per acre for about 69 acres. The government and SIPCOT appealed, but the Madras High Court upheld the lower court's ruling in its final verdict on March 6, 2012, directing payment of the revised amounts. The petition alleged that even after the High Court verdict, SIPCOT had not fully disbursed the compensation. In several other cases, it said, the government and SIPCOT delayed proceedings by not filing responses, leaving many claims pending. Some farmers, it added, were unable to pursue legal remedies due to lack of documents, award copies, or awareness, or because of expired deadlines. Citing Section 28A of the Land Acquisition Act of 1894, the association urged the government to re-determine the compensation, ₹2.50 lakh per acre as base land value, plus 30% solatium, 12% additional market value, and 15% interest as per the court order. The revised compensation should be formalised through a Government Order and distributed to all affected farmers, the petition said. The petition also highlighted that SIPCOT currently leased land at ₹81 lakh per acre for industrial purposes and ₹1.62 crore for commercial use. Over 100 families, it said, lost their livelihood without receiving compensation and suffered for three decades. The association requested the CM's immediate intervention to resolve the issue.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
How a river dies: Thenpennai, Tamil Nadu's Second-Longest River, Is Killing Crops, Fish, And Is Too Polluted To Use
Centuries ago, it was celebrated in Sangam literature, depicted as flourishing with lush vegetation along its banks. It was worshipped too, with temples built along its banks. Today, the 497 km Thenpennai, Tamil Nadu's second-longest river after the Cauvery, flows frothy and foul. "It used to nourish our fields," says farmer K Mariappan. "Now it kills our crop." He recalls how his father and grandfather harvested an abundance of groundnuts thanks to the clean waters of Thenpennai. "Now, crops wilt when irrigated with the polluted water. A decade ago, I harvested 300 quintals of cabbage per acre. Now it's down to 140. Even that's hard with the chemical foam." Like the Cauvery, the Thenpennai is an interstate river, rising from the Chennakesava Hills in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district and winding its way through Bengaluru's industrial corridors before entering Tamil Nadu near Hosur. In Tamil Nadu, it passes through Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, and Cuddalore, its watershed spanning nearly 3,700 sq km. In Krishnagiri, the Kelavarapalli dam supports nearly 8,000 acres of farmland. Further downstream, the older Krishnagiri Reservoir Project provides water to more than 9,000 acres across 16 villages in Krishnagiri. For most of the year, the river runs dry, flowing only during the monsoons. When it does, it raises the water table and replenishes tanks and reservoirs. But, say farmers, over the past few years, when water is released from Kelavarapalli dam, it is full of effluents that inundate farmland, with the foam sometimes reaching as high as the branches of trees. Tests have found high levels of industrial pollutants, including detergents and chemicals that reduce dissolved oxygen and harm aquatic life. In May 2024, Thenpennai foamed white with toxic froth, and farmers in Krishnagiri urged the state govt and district administration to tackle the problem. A month later, on June 9, a 15-member team from the Central Water Commission arrived at Kelavarapalli dam to assess the damage. "They took water samples," says Poomozhi, an environmentalist from Salem. "But no action has been taken." He says a Central Pollution Control Board inspection in 2020 found the pollution was due to untreated effluents from Bengaluru-based industries. "The committee recommended restoring Bellandur and Varthur lakes, but nothing has been done." Each day, 30 million litres are drawn from the river by the Hosur municipal corporation for drinking water, and another 13 million litres supply SIPCOT industries. The Sathanur Dam, at Tiruvannamalai, with a capacity of 7.3 TMCFT, is the largest on the river. As a result, much of Bengaluru's sewage reaches Thenpennai via Bellandur, Varthur, and other channels. Tests revealed coliform levels ranging from 2.42 lakh to 19,863 MPN/100 ml, far above the permissible 2,500 MPN/100 ml for bathing. "How can villagers be expected to drink this water?" says Poomozhi. A few years ago, researchers from IIT Madras identified high concentrations of emerging contaminants in the Cauvery, detecting 15 pharmaceutical pollutants, including anti-inflammatories (like ibuprofen), stimulants (such as caffeine), antidepressants, and antibiotics. Some of these were found at levels several times higher than in other rivers across India. The river was also contaminated with plastics and heavy metals. The study recommended regular monitoring and upgrades to wastewater treatment systems to curb the pollution. Last month, Krishnagiri collector C Dinesh Kumar inspected the site and assured residents that the state would approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT). "Steps are being taken to form a committee for evaluating the river and the nearby industries." But farmers say they've lost hope and fear the Thenpennai is headed the way of the Noyyal, a tributary of Cauvery that was choked by effluents from textile dyeing units in Tirupur. Once a vital water source for Coimbatore, the Noyyal is now often described as a "gutter" clogged with plastics and sewage.
Hans India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Tamil Nadu Approves New Chennai Metro Line from Poonamallee to Parandur
The Tamil Nadu government has given permission to build a new metro train line. This means they have agreed to start the project. The new train will travel from a place called Poonamallee to another place called Parandur. On the way, the train will stop at a town named Sunguvarchatram. This new train line is part of a bigger metro project. The bigger project connects from a place called Light House to Poonamallee. First Step of the Plan The first phase will cover the route from Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram. It will be 27.9 km long. The estimated cost is ₹8,779 crore. This route will provide easy access to the Kuthambakkam Bus Station. The state government has submitted the plan to the Central Government to seek approval and assistance. Metro Stations in the First Phase There will be 14 metro stations along this route: Nazarathpet Chembarambakkam Kuthambakkam Bus Station Samathuvapuram Chettipedu Thandalam SIPCOT Irungattukottai Pennalur Sriperumbudur Pattunool Chatram Irungulam Industrial Area Mambakkam Thirumangalam Sunguvarchatram Full Metro Plan The entire metro route from Poonamallee to Parandur will span 52.94 km. The total cost is estimated at ₹15,906 crore. The project will be implemented in two phases: Phase 1: From Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram Phase 2: From Sunguvarchatram to Parandur Next Steps The government will soon begin the following activities: Relocating utility lines such as wires and pipes Acquiring land for the metro construction Work will start first on Phase 1 Fast Train Proposal Chennai Metro is also considering building a fast train to connect to the new airport at Parandur. This train could be similar to the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), offering faster travel than the regular metro.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Opposition to the SIPCOT project in Vembur continues
A Farmers' association from Thoothukudi submitted a petition at the district collectorate on Monday, demanding the withdrawal of the proposed SIPCOT project in Vembur and nearby villages. According to the petition, Vembur village comprises several hamlets including Ramasamipuram, Azhagapuri, Kodangipatti where almost 900 families are residing. Most of these families are dependent on agriculture, and livestock for their livelihood. It stated that the government had initiated acquisition of lands in the area that had around 13 village ponds and several canals. The implementation of the project would affect these water bodies and threaten the primary water sources for residents of Vembur and surrounding villages. Association president M. Rajesh urged the government to consider using the land already acquired near Vembur for the project instead. He added that few people, owning barren land had agreed for the negotiation, but the majority continues to resist the project, fearing the loss of fertile agricultural land. 'Villagers have been told the SIPCOT project will help create job opportunities, which has led some to agree to the negotiations,' he noted. He also emphasised that one of the most important native breeds of sheep, found in Vembur relies on this agricultural land for grazing. The proposed project would disrupt the habitat and threaten the survival of this breed. Speaking on this, an official from the Revenue department said that many landowners had accepted the compensation offered by the government and only few are protesting the project. The official added that most of the people against the project have their land near to the bypass road, which holds higher market value.
