By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

A protest broke out here in Manamadurai on Tuesday demanding to permanent closure of the biomedical waste treatment plant under construction at the SIPCOT industrial park.

Though several gram sabha resolutions were passed and protests were organised in the last year against the establishment of the waste treatment plant, the construction works began.

Several parties like AIADMK, CPI(M), Naam Tamilar Party and several farmers’ organisations, held separate demonstrations. Subsequently, the then District Collector Asha Ajith, ordered a temporary halt to the construction.

Nevertheless, construction resumed just a few weeks later and is now nearing completion. With the plant’s imminent opening, various political parties and organisations formed the Medical Waste Treatment Plant Protest Coordination Committee in the last month.

The committee members also appealed to Minister for Cooperation K.R. Periyakaruppan, District Collector K. Porkodi, and MLAs for the closure of the plant.

As no actions were taken, they announced a town shutdown and a protest.

According to their decision, a total shutdown of shops was observed across Manamadurai. Thousands of people from various political parties, as well as trade associations and residents of Manamadurai Municipality and nearby panchayats of Surakulam, Pillaruthan, Seikalathur, Kalkurichi, and Mangulam, marched in a procession to besiege the plant inside the SIPCOT complex.

The police had set up barricades to stop them. However, the protestors pushed against the barricades in an attempt to get through, leading to a scuffle.

The police then stopped them and held a peace talk with the protesters.

Following that, District Superintendent of Police R. Shiva Prasad, along with other officials held talks with the protest committee leader Veera Pandi, Trade Association President Balagurusamy, and others.

Meanwhile, as the talks stretched on for over three hours, the public blocked the Sivaganga-Manamadurai highway. They later staged a road blockade in front of the Tehsildar’s office as well, causing traffic to be diverted to other routes.

As per the protesters, it was decided that a recommendation would be sent to the State government to close the medical waste treatment plant and to obtain an order to that effect within two months.

It was also agreed that construction work would be halted until then, with the police monitoring the site to ensure no work takes place.

Following the agreement, the protestors dispersed. The protest, which lasted for over four hours, severely disrupted traffic.