Chennai: In a major embarrassment to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Thursday, the party’s Ranipet MLA I. Thahira demanded the immediate closure of a JK Tyre factory in her constituency during the Question Hour. She claimed it was causing severe pollution and operating through the night in the area. However, there is no such JK Tyre manufacturing unit in Ranipet.
Thahira, a first-time MLA, alleged that the unit was damaging the environment and local residents had been protesting without any action from the previous government. “That company must be shut down under our government, we do not need it in our place,” she said.
Environment and Climate Change Minister V. K. Rajeev responded in the House that an official inspection would be ordered and action taken based on the findings. Industries Minister S. Keerthana also responded and said that there is a need to ensure that there are adequate jobs for the youth and it needs to be balanced with proper environmental protection. She also suggested that rules could be framed so that industries continue to operate in the state, while environmental protection is kept in mind.
However, DMK was quick to cross check the issue raised and former Industries Minister and DMK leader T. R. B. Raajaa was among the first to point out the factual error.
In a post on X, he noted that while JK Tyre has a plant in Kancheepuram district near Sriperumbudur, there is no manufacturing facility in Ranipet. He questioned why ministers were responding to a demand about a non-existent factory and called the entire exchange an example of poor governance.
Taking a dig at TVK, he wrote, “…the TVK MLA is said to have called a tyre retreading outlet as ‘JK Tyre Company. Now, one thing is clear. One should not take anything said by the TVK MLAs as hard facts just like their reels. But, wonder why their own govt acknowledged it and even defended it. For them a retail retreading shop seems to be a polluting industry worthy of a question in the Assembly, instead of asking the local authorities to take action. Is this the kind of ‘industry’ they are going after? Hope not!”
The whole incident went viral on social media with netizens suggesting that Thahira may have been referring to smaller tyre vulcanising units in and around Ranipet rather than a full-fledged JK Tyre plant.
JK Tyre’s official list of manufacturing locations confirms its only Tamil Nadu facility is the Chennai Tyre Plant at Kolathur village on the Sriperumbudur-Tambaram Road, roughly 70 km from Ranipet.
Hours later, Industries Minister Keerthana issued a clarification on X. She stated that a reference had been made in the Assembly to a JK Tyre unit in Ranipet, but “on verification, JK Tyre does not have a manufacturing facility in Ranipet”. She added that the environmental concerns raised by the MLA would still be examined to identify the actual unit responsible.
Keerthana also noted that JK Tyre, which recently signed an MoU for expansion at the TN Vettri Conclave, has reiterated that its existing plant strictly follows pollution norms.
DMK leaders and supporters used the episode to take a dig at the ruling party, portraying it as evidence of hasty statements and inadequate homework by first-time legislators.
The episode has also triggered discussion on social media about the need for MLAs to verify basic facts before demanding the closure of industrial units on the floor of the House.
Upon verification, it was found that a small scale tyre melting plant in the name of AK Tyres operates in Ranipet and the tyre manufacturing major was wrongly named for causing pollution by the TVK MLA. Locals confirmed that the unit belonged to a local DMK panchayat president. JK Tyre’s Tamil Nadu plant remains operational in Sriperumbudur, and the company has not commented on the Assembly issue.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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