The controversy over land acquisition by the SIPCOT near Cheyyar town in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu | Explained

For over a year, protests have been ongoing in Tiruvannamalai district over SIPCOT's move to acquire land for its Phase-III project. 13 companies are currently operating in Phase-I, providing direct employment to 27,432 and indirect employment to 75,000. 55 companies are operating in Phase-II, providing direct employment to 31,645 and indirect employment to over 1 lakh. 20 people were arrested in Nov 2023, prompting civil society to appeal to CM to release them.

The story so far:

For over a year, over a half-a-dozen villages identified for the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) Phase-III near Cheyyar town in Tiruvannamalai district, remained a hotbed of protests over SIPCOT’s move to initiate the process of land acquisition for its expansion activities. These villages include Melma, Narmapallam, Kurumbur, Thethurai, Nedungal, Athi, Vada Alapirandan, Veerapakkam and Lianeerkundram

Originally in 1995, SIPCOT had acquired 645 acres of land in Mangal, Chellaperumbulimedu and Mathur villages to set up its first phase of industrial complex near Cheyyar town.

However, the land was lying vacant till 2006. Thereafter the State government allotted 364 acres of the acquired land to various industries in the following three years. The Cheyyar industrial complex is part of the Chennai-Ranipet-Hosur industrial corridor promoted by the State government to attract investment then.

Currently, 13 companies are functioning in the complex that provides direct employment to 27,432 persons and indirect employment to 75,000 persons, mostly locals. Over a decade ago, SIPCOT acquired 2,300 hectares for its Phase - II work there. Subsequently, 55 companies are operating in its Phase - II complex where 31,645 persons were directly employed and over one lakh persons were indirectly employed.

Against this backdrop, SIPCOT’s plans to acquire vast tracts of land for its Phase - III project has triggered mass protests by the farmers and the local residents.

The issue flared up on November 4, 2023, when Anakavoor police arrested 20 persons, mostly affected farmers and their organisers, under IPC sections 143, 147, 294 (B), 341, 353 adn 506 (1) and the Public Property Act 1984. They were accused of agitating against the project since July 2.