A 25-year-old man attempted to immolate himself in protest against the proposed Neutrino project in Tamil Nadu’s Theni on Saturday, PTI reported. The man, identified as Ravi, is a volunteer of Vaiko-led Marmalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
The incident occurred just before a rally organised by the Marmalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the state. Vaiko said the volunteer sustained 90% burns, The New Indian Express reported.
The India-based Neutrino Observatory aims to study the properties of the fundamental particles of neutrinos in earth’s atmosphere. Slated to come up in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district by 2020, the project is estimated to cost over Rs 1,300 crore. But the INO’s main detector – which requires the digging of a massive underground cavern 1 kilometre under a hill and an access tunnel to it – has been held up because it awaits clearance from the prime minister’s office.
Several parties in the state have been protesting against the proposed project and have demanded all approvals be held until the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board clears the Neutrino Observatory. The Centre had granted environmental clearance for the project.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Working President MK Stalin flagged off the Marmalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rally at Palanganatham on Saturday. “The Centre is not bothered about people of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said. “Consequences of the project such as excessive radiation are not taken into consideration. There are also chances for occurrence of earthquakes due to this project. The Centre is planning to implement several other hazardous projects in Tamil Nadu and is attempting to turn the state into a burial ground.”
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