TN salt producers in deep waters

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: The production of salt in the coastal town of Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu has dwindled to half recently with rising cost of production, low yield and unremunerative prices.

Vedaranyam had been engaged in common salt production for several decades and it was from this town, late C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) enacted the “salt satyagraha” replicating the famous Dandi march of Gandhiji in Gujarat.

More than 20,000 labourers are employed in salt production which is taken up between January and June. According to president of the Vedaranyam Salt Manufacturers and Merchants Association A Vedaratinam, the production of common salt, which was around 3.5 lakh tonnes per annum, had drastically come down this year.