Thu Jun 26 10:39:21 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
Following sustained opposition from farmers, political groups, and the general public, the Tamil Nadu government has revoked permission for the expansion of a private textile processing plant near the Kodiveri anicut in Gobichettipalayam. The plant was projected to release pollutants into the river water and reduce the land available for irrigation. The decision came after years of objections, protests, documentation of regulatory violations by the company, and political pressure from state leaders. The government finally acted after a review by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
**News Article:**
**Tamil Nadu Government Bows to Pressure, Cancels Textile Plant Expansion Amid Pollution Concerns**
**ERODE, June 26, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu government has officially rescinded its approval for the expansion of a private textile processing unit near the Kodiveri anicut in Gobichettipalayam, Erode district, following intense public outcry. The decision, announced today, comes after years of opposition from farmers, political parties, and environmental activists concerned about the potential for increased pollution of the Bhavani River, a vital water source for over one crore people in the western districts.
The proposed ₹500-crore dyeing and washing unit, planned for Akkaraikodiveri village, sparked widespread alarm among local farmers who depend on the Bhavani River for irrigating over three lakh acres of land. The Kodiveri Dam-Bhavani River Irrigation Farmers Association spearheaded the opposition, highlighting the river’s existing struggles with industrial waste and untreated sewage.
“This river is our lifeline,” said Subi Thalapathi, president of the association. “This project would have exacerbated an already critical situation, threatening our livelihoods and the environment.”
Despite initial resistance, the Tamil Nadu Department of Environment and Climate Change granted permission for the plant in November 2024 (Government Order (3D) No. 9). The association responded with renewed objections, submitting 15 years’ worth of evidence documenting the company’s past regulatory violations and non-compliance with pollution control standards.
The issue gained political traction when Gobichettipalayam MLA K.A. Sengottaiyan raised the matter in the State Assembly. A detailed memorandum was later submitted to the Chief Minister and relevant ministers in March 2025.
Ultimately, the government ordered a review of the permission based on an inquiry report from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. On June 10, 2025, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Climate Change issued an order officially canceling the permit.
The Kodiveri Dam-Bhavani River Irrigation Farmers Association expressed its gratitude to all stakeholders who supported the fight against the plant’s expansion. “This victory is a testament to the power of collective action,” Thalapathi stated. “It demonstrates that when communities stand together, we can protect our environment and our livelihoods.”
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