Tirupattur villagers protest proposed stone quarry along TN-AP border
Villagers in Tirupattur district protest a proposed stone quarry, citing risks to groundwater, farmland, and local infrastructure.
Residents of Kalliyur, Madapallam, and Malripatti villages in Tirupattur district staged a protest on Saturday against a proposed stone quarry at Thengal village, located near the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border. Preliminary work at the site had been underway for the past few weeks, prompting villagers to maintain a constant vigil.
The protesters demanded the complete scrapping of the quarry project, arguing that it would severely damage farmlands, water bodies, and essential village infrastructure such as roads and water pipelines. R. Sugumar, a local resident, said most villagers depend on groundwater for irrigation. He noted that the quarry could also harm panchayat roads and water pipelines, and that petitions had already been submitted to the District Collector.
Kalliyur, situated near the Palar River, is a large farming village with around 1,200 acres under cultivation and roughly 3,000 voters. Farmers rely on two lakes and several ponds for their agricultural needs.
Officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) stated that about 100 quarries, mostly stone quarries, are currently operating in the district, mainly in Ambur, Kandali, Jolarpet, Natrampalli, and Tirupattur.
The protest began around 10 a.m. Revenue officials and Natrampalli police arrived at the scene to pacify the crowd. After receiving assurances from authorities, the villagers dispersed peacefully.