Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna said that a fact-finding team led by the District Collector will assess ground realities to acquire land for the proposed phase-3 expansion of the SIPCOT complex near Cheyyar town in Tiruvannamalai.

The Minister was addressing a consultative meeting with stakeholders, including farmers, environmental activists, elected representatives and residents at Melma village, one of the affected villages under the proposed project. “The fact-finding team will study the ground realities related to the project and submit its report to the State government. Rights and livelihood of farmers will always be protected,” he said.

Accompanied by Collector Vandhana Garg and environmental activist Arul Arumugam, Mr. Arjuna highlighted the need for coexistence of industrial development and agricultural activities and said that necessary land will be acquired for the project without affecting the livelihood of farmers in the region. “The State government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will take a sympathetic view on cases registered against protesting farmers on the project. Withdrawal of cases against farmers will also be considered,” he said.

Farmers said that the State government should consider over 1,000 acres of land that was acquired for Phase - I and II of the SIPCOT project many years ago to be utilized for its Phase-III expansion. “Cultivable lands in the region should not be acquired for industrial development. Alternative arrangement to boost industrial activity should be probed,” said B. Esaki, a farmer.

As per the plan, 3,174 acres of land will be acquired from nine farming villages — Melma, Narmapallam, Kurumbur, Thethurai, Nedungal, Athi, Vada Alapirandan, Veerapakkam, and Lianeerkundram — for the phase-3 project, which began over a decade ago, in Anakavoor panchayat union near Cheyyar town.

Revenue officials said that as per government order, the State government had fixed ₹18 lakh per acre of land as compensation. Separate compensation for assets like trees, farm wells, and buildings on acquired land will be added to the total compensation for beneficiaries.