Salt workers and fishermen staged protests in Thoothukudi on Monday, opposing the proposed ₹13,000-crore shipbuilding project and the reported plan to use traditional salt-producing lands for the project, as reported in Aaj Tak.
Workers gathered at Mullakadu and Kovilam coast around 6.30 am, carrying black flags and raising objections to the proposed allocation of salt-pan lands for the shipbuilding facility.
#WATCH | Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu: Salt-pan workers staged a black flag protest at around 6:30 a.m. today, opposing attempts to hand over traditional salt production lands in the Mullakadu and Kovalam Sea areas to multinational companies. Fishermen also staged protests against the… pic.twitter.com/jjCYVboFIf
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2026
The protesters said the issue was not merely about land but also about their livelihoods. Several families in the area have depended on salt production for generations. Much of the salt-producing land, including government-owned parcels leased to salt manufacturers, could be brought under the proposed project.
The shipbuilding project is proposed to be developed through a joint venture involving SIPCOT and the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Salt Workers Demand Alternative Site
The administration has reportedly proposed alternative land and compensation for salt producers who could be affected by the project. However, the protesters have opposed the proposal, arguing that salt production depends on specific coastal conditions and that simply shifting them elsewhere may not provide a viable livelihood.
They have instead demanded that Vaippar be considered as an alternative location for the shipbuilding project.
Fishermen Raise Pollution Concerns
Local fishermen have also joined the opposition, citing concerns over the potential impact of the shipbuilding yard on the marine environment.
They fear industrial activity could increase pollution in the sea and affect fishing activity and marine resources on which local fishing communities depend.
The protesters have urged the authorities to consider the livelihood concerns of salt workers and fishermen before proceeding with the project.
They have also warned that the agitation could intensify if their demands are not addressed.
Protests All Over Again
Several major projects have been stalled or driven out of Tamil Nadu over the years, including the ₹13,000-crore Thoothukudi shipbuilding project, ₹29,000-crore Parandur airport, ₹10,000-crore Chennai–Salem Expressway, ₹27,500-crore Kulachal port and ₹25,000-crore Cuddalore Nagarjuna refinery. The ₹16,000-crore second-phase expansion of Vizhinjam port has also gone to Kerala. Tamil Nadu has effectively turned away projects worth thousands of crores and the jobs they could have created.
இதோ அடுத்த போராட்டம் ஆரம்பித்துவிட்டது!
பிரதமர் திரு @narendramodi அவர்களின் ஆட்சிக் காலத்தில், போராட்டங்கள் மூலமாகவே மத்திய அரசுக்கு கோடிக்கணக்கான ரூபாயை மிச்சப்படுத்திக் கொடுத்துள்ள தமிழ்நாடு அரசுக்கும், அதற்காக வீதியில் இறங்கிப் போராடிய மாபெரும் போராட்டக்காரர்களுக்கும்… pic.twitter.com/ncMryXY8K6
— Vinoj P Selvam (@VinojBJP) September 7, 2026
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