Mon Dec 09 16:28:09 UTC 2024: ## Thoothukudi Residents Protest Proposed Quarry Establishments
**Thoothukudi, December 9, 2024** – Residents of Sivakalai and Velan Puthukulam villages in Thoothukudi district staged a protest on Monday, submitting petitions to the Collectorate opposing the establishment of new stone quarries in their areas. The petitions, submitted during the weekly grievance meeting chaired by Collector K. Elambahavath, highlighted concerns about environmental damage and disruption to local livelihoods.
Sivakalai residents argued that the proposed quarry site is surrounded by agricultural land, a conservation area with rare species, and an archaeological site. They emphasized the negative impact on three nearby ponds crucial for irrigation, warning of detrimental effects on natural resources, wildlife, and farmland. Immanuel, a Sivakalai resident, voiced these concerns directly to the Collector.
Velan Puthukulam residents expressed similar anxieties, stating that the quarry’s operation would severely jeopardize their village due to pre-existing water scarcity. Both groups urged the government to reject permission for the quarry projects.
Separately, residents of Sankaraperi village petitioned for the construction of a permanent road connecting their village to Kadambur, citing the lack of adequate road access as a significant impediment to accessing essential services.
First Piper 