Salt Workers Protest in Tamil Nadu 'Ship Building Yard'

More than 100 salt producers and workers staged a black flag protest in the salt pans at Kovalam near Mullaikadu on Monday, opposing the proposed shipbuilding yard project and demanding that the Centre and Tamil Nadu government shift it to an alternative location. 

The protesters entered the salt pans carrying black flags, contending that the project would threaten the traditional salt-making industry and the livelihood of thousands of workers dependent on the region.

More than 20,000



men and women are engaged in salt production in Mullaikadu, Kovalam and Pullaveli, while fishing communities along the Kovalam coast also depend on the area for their livelihood. 

They alleged that around 3,000 acres in Mullaikadu, Kovalam, Pullaveli and adjoining areas had been acquired through Sipcot for the proposed shipbuilding yard project. The protesters maintained that converting the salt producing belt for the industrial project would destroy existing salt pans and adversely affect fishing activities.