A clash broke out between two groups near Singampunari due to opposition against a stone quarry.

Steps were under way to establish a private stone quarry spanning 100 acres in Jayankondanilai village near Singampunari in Sivaganga district.

Residents of Jayankondanilai, Krishnapuram, E. Malampatti, Mallakkottai, and Siddamallipatti villages have registered their opposition for the project. A resolution against the quarry was also passed during the village gram sabha meeting last year.

Further, objections and petitions regarding the quarry were submitted by the villagers to the Department of Geology and Mining, the Pollution Control Board, the District Collector, the Devakottai Sub-Collector, and the Tahsildar. Nonetheless, efforts to open the quarry have continued.

Condemning this, villagers appealed to the District Collector last month. Even after that, the work was not halted. Last week, villagers staged a road roko protest on the Aariyur-Melur highway demanding a ban on the quarry.

Meanwhile, a group supporting the quarry submitted a petition at the Sivaganga District Collectorate.

They stated that the opening of the quarry and crusher would provide employment opportunities, and that a certain group is obstructing this with ulterior motives. Additionally, posters supporting the quarry were pasted in areas, including Sivaganga.

Earlier, the opposing group questioned those who were traveling in a car to submit a petition in support of the quarry. This led to a clash between them. It is reported that the quarry supporters assaulted two individuals from the opposing group.

The injured persons were admitted to a private hospital.

Since the assault occurred within the Madurai district jurisdiction, the residents of Jeyankondanilai besieged the Keezhaavalavu police station demanding action against the attackers.

Later, the Jayankondanilai villagers submitted a petition at the Sivaganga District Collectorate.

They also tore down posters that had been pasted in support of the quarry.

They stated, “While the entire village public is opposing it, outsiders have been brought in to submit a petition supporting the quarry. They have attacked those who questioned this.”

Published - July 27, 2026 09:06 pm IST