Amid stiff opposition to a private bottling plant functioning “unauthorisedly” at Suriyur near here, a peace committee meeting convened by revenue officials with the people of the village on Tuesday failed to satisfy the latter.
The peace committee meeting was convened a day after a group of the people of Suriyur, Chinna Suriyur, and Pattaveli were arrested when they started surrendering their ration cards to the Collector as a mark of protest against bottling plant which, they said, had been functioning “unauthorisedly” and demanded its closure.
In the wake of public protest, a meeting was convened at Tiruverambur taluk office to discuss the raging issue. It was attended by representatives of the bottling plant. During the meeting presided over by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruchi, the people of the village persisted with their demand to close down the unit as it was functioning “unauthorisedly” affecting their livelihood. The villagers’ contention was that ever since the unit began to function, it drew huge quantities of water resulting in sharp decline in water table affecting the livelihood of farmers in at least 10 villages. Sources said during the course of the meeting, the revenue officials told the people of the village that they would issue a notice to the plant prior to initiating action. However, the people of the villages were unsatisfied with this reply stating that there had not been any visible impact on the notices sent in the past.
Peace committee meeting held with protesters
Officials promise to issue notice to the plant management
Protesters not satisfied with the reply given by officials
