Protests erupt in Cuddalore over SIPCOT expansion plans

Thousands of residents, including farmers, fishermen, and women, staged a human chain protest along a 2 km stretch of coastline from Sothikuppam to Nanjalingham Pettai in Cuddalore. The demonstration was held to demand the cancellation of the SIPCOT expansion project.

The government previously announced the acquisition of 1,000 acres of land in 2025 to establish a new industrial park in surrounding villages such as Thiyagavalli, Kudikadu, and Noch Sigadu. A subsequent government order issued in September reportedly expanded the land acquisition scope, triggering further unrest.

Protesters argue that the area is highly fertile for agriculture and that previous land acquisitions from the 1980s for SIPCOT were never fully compensated or utilized. Revenue and police officials met with protesters to hold discussions during the two hour demonstration.