The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) held a public hearing on Thursday to discuss the proposed expansion of the Cuddalore port.

The project, which seeks to enhance the port’s capacity from 5.68 Million Tonnes Per Annum to 11.48 Million Tonnes Per Annum, besides shipbuilding and ship repair facilities, drew mixed reactions from the locals.

While many supported the project, citing job opportunities for the locals, opponents of the project raised concerns over the potential environmental risk associated with the expansion of the port by a private player.

Selva Ezhumalai of Chithirappettai said that the project must be implemented in a way that does not affect the livelihood and daily routine of fisherfolk. The expansion should not disrupt the normal life and work of fishermen, he said.

Chandrasekhar, a resident of Kudikadu, highlighted the cumulative impact of multiple industrial and expansion projects in the region. “Water and air quality have already deteriorated, and serious health issues are emerging among the public,” he said.

Raja alias Bhuvanendran of Pachayakuppam said that people were not against the project. However, the residents would resort to protests if the expansion caused any damage to them. Muthamizhselvan, a youth from Pachayankuppam demanded that priority be given to the local residents for employment opportunities generated by the project. The private player should ensure that around 80% of the jobs are reserved for the locals, he said.

In a statement, the Cuddalore-based SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitors (SACEM) has called for mandatory cumulative environmental impact assessments for all industrial and expansion projects in Cuddalore district, citing gaps in current environmental clearance processes.

SACEM pointed out that Cuddalore district hosts numerous industries, including existing factories, expansion projects, and new proposals. While each project submits its own Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, there is no comprehensive study of the combined impact of multiple projects within a 10-kilometre radius.

“Each project files its individual EIA, showing only the impact of that specific unit and the mitigation measures proposed. But there is no assessment of what happens when the impacts of existing industries are added to the new project’s impact,” said a spokesperson of SACEM.

SACEM stressed that only a cumulative impact assessment can reveal the true environmental burden on a region.