Survey: 76 Pochampalli Farmers Shortchanged in SIPCOT Land Compensation

According to a survey released on Wednesday, 76 farmers who contributed land to the Pochampalli SIPCOT in Krishnagiri district received compensation of only ₹14,000 to ₹17,000 per acre, instead of the ₹43,000 per acre recorded in SIPCOT's official documents.

The survey was conducted by the Forum for Indian Women Intellect (FIWI) across 18 villages near the SIPCOT complex, interviewing 215 individuals. FIWI founder and retired IAS officer P. Sivakami highlighted the need for monitoring and auditing SIPCOT operations due to their impact on residents' quality of life.

Most respondents reported health problems such as respiratory issues, skin inflammation, and eye irritation attributable to industrial emissions. Ms. Sivakami stated that local doctors confirmed many patients visited daily with pollution-related skin ailments.

Additional concerns included water scarcity and deteriorating groundwater quality. Despite residents lodging complaints and protests, the survey indicated no action by the state government. Many women employed at SIPCOT reported knee pain from standing over 12 hours at work.

Of the 147 units in the complex, only 45 were operational, with 50 under construction and the rest vacant. The survey suggested the state could establish cottage industries or processing units for coconut coir, mango pulp, and tomato puree to address local unemployment.

Recommendations included improving medical infrastructure, focusing on respiratory issues, and organizing weekly medical camps. The survey also called for legislation to reserve 75% of jobs for local residents and to abolish the temporary contract system.