THERVOY Kandigai village, 50 km northwest of Chennai in Thiruvallur district, is planning another protest against the Tamil Nadu government’s plan to set up an industrial estate on its 405 hectares (ha) of common forestland. People were encouraged by the recent Supreme Court ruling declaring the transfer of common land for private or commercial development illegal (see ‘Return of village land’, Down To Earth, February 16-28, 2011).
French multinational Michelin plans to open a tyre manufacturing company; Harsha Glass, a glass manufacturing factory; and Tropical Breweries, a beer distillery in the estate promoted by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), a government body. Michelin has already begun construction under tight police vigil and has cleared all vegetation. “The police patrol here round the clock since our hunger strike last month. They do not let us gather in groups of even three or four,” says S Mariamma, a resident of Thervoy.
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