THOOTHUKUDI: Farmers of Tenkasi and Virudhunagar districts, and Kovilpatti have launched a protest against the centre-backed graphite mining project at Kurunjakulam in Thiruvengadam of Tenkasi district, citing impact on groundwater resources. The protesters have also threatened to boycott the upcoming polls if their grievances are not heeded to.
The union ministry of mines had released an e-tender for mining graphite on 656.46 acre at Kurunjakulam, on November 29, 2023. Kurunjakulam is located 20 km away from Kovilpatti, three km from Thiruvengadam, seven km from Kazhugumalai, and borders Tenkasi and Virudhunagar district. In 1924, graphite was discovered in the Neeravikulam tank at Kurunjakulam. But, the government did not proceed with mining the mineral.
"The locals would collect 'kakapon' (colloquial term for graphite) at the Neeravikulam tank," recalled veteran leader KS Radhakrishnan. Mining projects were also stopped during the period of former chief ministers Bakthavachalam, in 1963, and M Karunanidhi in 1999.
The proposed mining project will lead to displacement of hundreds of people from the surrounding villages, and will deplete the groundwater resources — the main source of irrigation, said Radhakrishnan, also a native of Kurunjakulam. Desiya Vivasayigal Sangam president Renganayagulu said that the region's location in the midst of black soil tracts leaves it bone dry without a major river.
"Farmers of short-term crops rely on the northeast monsoon. Minor millets, maize, and other short-term crops, lemon, and cotton are the major crops cultivated here, and farmers rely on groundwater for irrigation as well as for domestic use," he added.
Villiseri is a hub of lemon farmers, and the district administration has initiated a process to secure the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Villiseri lemons. The renowned Vettuvankovil, rock cut temples, and jain beds of Kazhugumalai are located eight km away from Kurunjankulam, they said.
Given the already precarious situation, Renganayagulu said that the project will adversely affect agriculture and groundwater resources in Kazhugumalai, Ilayarasanendal, and Kovilpatti firkas in Thoothukudi; Vembakottai taluk in Virudhunagar district; and Sankarankovil and Thiruvengadm taluks in Tenkasi district. It will affect at least two lakh people, he added.
Farmers in the region held a meeting at Kovilpatti, and submitted a petition to Tenkasi district collector in regards to the same. They held demonstrations at Thiruvengadam and will conduct an anti-graphite conference at Kovilpatti. Radhakrishnan, who is leading the farmers, told TNIE that an awareness campaign will be conducted to educate people and take legal recourse.
"We can not expect the government to pay heed to people's sentiments to withdraw the project, and so we ought to agitate," said Renganayagulu.