"Farmers protest against CPCL in Nagapattinam over pending land compensation", 13 August 2025

Farmers in Panangudi panchayat of Thirumarugal union on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration in front of the office gate of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), demanding immediate disbursal of compensation for agricultural land acquired for the company’s ongoing refinery expansion project.

The ₹31,500-crore expansion work involves acquisition of 620 acres from Panangudi, Gopurajapuram, Muttam, and Narimanam. Protesters, including cultivators, agricultural labourers, and landowners, alleged that CPCL had delayed payment of rehabilitation and resettlement compensation despite taking possession of the land.

Led by former panchayat president Jamuna Senthilkumar and DMK Labour Wing district organiser Santhosh, the agitators raised slogans pressing for early completion of the expansion works on acquired lands, job opportunities for all affected workers, and compensation for every displaced farming family.

They said that if the project could not be completed, the acquired farmlands should be returned to farmers for cultivation. The protest was withdrawn after talks held with Nagapattinam Tahsildar, who assured them of due action.