Parents and students who submitted a petition seeking bus facility, at the Thoothukudi Collectorate on Monday.
| Photo Credit: N. RAJESH

Villages from various villages in Thoothukudi region have submitted petitions, urging the Tamil Nadu government to take necessary measures to reopen Sterlite Copper plant, considering the impact of closure on their livelihood. The petitions were submitted at the weekly grievance redressal meeting held at the Thoothukudi collectorate on Monday.

The petition submitted by residents of Meeelavittan, Pandarampatti and surrounding villages near Thoothukudi highlighted that their livelihood had been severely affected for the past seven years, since the closure of Sterlite Copper plant.

They added that local employment opportunities were scarce and many youths had been forced to migrate to other States in search of work.

The petitioners acknowledged and welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s efforts to bring new industries to Thoothukudi. However, they pointed out that since it would take time for these new industries to become operational, reopening the already established Sterlite Copper plant would provide immediate relief and support to the local economy.

They urged the government to constitute a high-level expert committee to identify and rectify the issues in the Sterlite plant, enabling its safe opening which would help to save the livelihood of many villagers around the region.

In another petition submitted during the meeting, residents of Kollamparambu village under the Ottapidaram taluk highlighted the lack of public transportation facilities in their area.

The petition submitted by villagers along with schoolchildren emphasised the urgent need for bus service at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, as children are facing difficulties to reach school.

Collector K. Elambahavath along with other district officials were present.