THOOTHUKUDI: Villagers protesting against Sterlite copper at Kumareddiyapuram hamlet are turning so skeptical of the state machinery that even routine works seem “a conspiracy” to them, thanks to the leaders of the protests who insist that people not believe government and government officials.
Seriously taking what was “preached” by the activists, Kumareddiyapuram villagers objected on Monday to the Ottapidaram block development officer (BDO) Sivabalan-led officers’ team from removing bore-well pipes for cleaning in their village.
Speaking to the media, villagers said that removing the borewell pipes and cleaning them would only help Sterlite, as after cleaning the pipes, the water may look pure. Unable to convince the angry mob, the Ottapidaram BDO informed his higher officials and left the village. Regretting the people’s objection to flushing the six bore-wells in the village, district collector N Venkatesh said that the work was part of the contingency plan to meet water shortage during summer planned much before the anti-Sterlite stir began.
According to the contingency plan, 310 works including flushing of 48 existing bore wells, digging 118 new bore-wells, deepening of 28 bore-wells, increasing the motor capacity of three bore-wells and extension of pipelines in 36 existing bore-wells at an estimated cost of Rs 7.55 crore in 250 panchayats are going on in all 12 blocks in the district.
