Subject: Stop further pollution in Cuddalore
For more information
1. For latest updates, please visit sipcotcuddalore.com, http://cuddaloreonline.blogspot.com/
2. AID and Cuddalore - http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/aidaustin/projects/CEM-II/index.html

To: The Chief Minister
Government of Tamilnadu
cmcell@tn.gov.in

Sir:

Coinciding with the 22nd anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, residents of SIPCOT Cuddalore are leading a cycle tour along with supporters from other parts of Tamilnadu to raise awareness about the dangerous and unhealthy environmental conditions in their locality due to industrial pollution. We're deeply concerned at the insensitive manner in which the Tamilnadu Government is pushing more and more toxic industries and pollution in Cuddalore. The SIPCOT area is already overburdened by pollution. Numerous agencies, including the State Human Rights Commission (1998), the Indian People's Tribunal headed by Justice (Retd) S. Janakaraj in 2003, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and a Public Hearing panel comprising Prof. S. Janakaraj et al (2006) have recommended against the setting up of any more polluting industries in the Cuddalore region.

Despite the massive opposition to polluting industries by the region's residents, the Tamilnadu Government has approved the setting up of a PVC factory by M/S Chemplast Sanmar. This proposal was rejected by the local residents in 2002 during a public hearing. Subsequently, the project was transferred to Krishnapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Even here it was rejected by local residents. Subsequently, it returned to Cuddalore in a modified form. Despite the fact that five years had passed since the EIA was performed, the project was summarily approved without any consultation. No public hearing has been held till date for the project's marine component (a jetty and raw material pipeline).

Even more disturbingly, more and more toxic industries -- a 6 mtpa oil refinery, a 4000 MW coal-fired power plant, a textile park -- and schemes to dump effluents from tanneries and textile dyeing operations are proposed for Cuddalore.

I wish to register my strongest objection to the proposals, and request the Tamilnadu Government to: a) Halt the construction of the Chemplast Sanmar PVC plastic factory;

b) Hold a fresh public hearing for the PVC factory, and a new public hearing for the marine terminal facility;

c) Drop all plans to introduce new pollution in Cuddalore, including the proposals for thermal power plant, refinery and textile park

d) Promote non-polluting and labour intensive industries that can make use of local natural and human resources and skills.

Sincerely,

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