The residents of Vanjinagaram, Boothamangalam and Kodukkampatti in Melur in Madurai district on Thursday submitted a petition to Madurai Collector urging the authorities not to establish the SIPCOT industrial park in Melur. They also staged a protest on the Collectorate premises pressing for their demand.

The residents said that most of them were agriculturists. They have been using the land as a grazing ground for their cattle. They said that establishing the SIPCOT industrial park on these lands in the area will affect the flora and fauna of the region and pollute waterbodies.

They said that the area has the presence of an ancient habitation and there was abundance of archaeological evidence. There are also many ancient temples in the area, they said, adding that the area should be preserved. 

They said that if the industrial park was established in the area, their livelihood would be affected and also the cultural sites in the area. They urged the authorities not to establish the industrial park .