A large number of salt producers and salt pan labourers on Monday submitted petitions at the Collectorate in Thoothukudi opposing the proposed acquisition of salt pan lands for shipyard project.

The petitions were submitted at the weekly grievance redressal meeting chaired by Collector Vishu Mahajan.

Last week, officials held a briefing for salt producers on acquisition of land for the project and assured them that alternative land would be provided near Vaippar. However, many salt producers rejected the proposal .

It is to be noted that a majority of them produce salt on government poramboke land and the lease period has expired.

As part of their continued opposition, a large number of salt producers and labourers from Mullakadu, Mauthaiahpuram and Pazhayakayal gathered at the Collectorate to submit their petitions.

The petition submitted by Kovalam Pasuvantharai Thanpaadu Siriya Alavu Uppu Urpathiyalargal Sangam said the salt pans notified for acquisition produced an average of five lakh tonnes of salt every year. The acquisition would affect more than one lakh labourers depending on them and retail and large-scale business in the region.

The petitioners also said they were willing to pay a lease amount of ₹5,000 per acre for one year and claimed that salt produced from the area could generate between ₹50 lakh to ₹70 lakh revenue for the State government.

As many of the labourers and producers submitted separate petitions, long queues were seen at the petition counter inside the Collectorate. After submitting their petitions, the protestors gathered outside the Collectorate and raised slogans demanding that the project be shifted elsewhere.

Published - July 27, 2026 08:48 pm IST