WIND PROJECTS THAT CHURN OUT MISERY FOR MANNAR PEOPLE

In Keeri village on Mannar Island, S. Vijithan remembers the simple act of buying water as a child. "Our family bought a pot of drinking water for Rs. 20, and my mother would cook white rice from it because the water was so pure and tasty," he recalled.

- Mirudhula Thambiah

Today, that same water is undrinkable — black, yellow, and foul-smelling — forcing villagers to buy water from outside just to survive. Nearby, in Naruvilikulam-Vankalai, S. Sebanesan, Leader of the Rural Development Society of his village, watches families struggle with a different toll. “Many pregnant women in our village have left to other places because of the noise of the windmills. Children who used to study well are now suffering from headaches and eye problems.

People being treated for high blood pressure have moved to other houses because they couldn't live here,” he said, his voice heavy with frustration.

More than 70 days into their peaceful protest, the people of Mannar Island are grappling with the impact of a major wind power project on their land and livelihoods. Residents and local activists report environmental strain, flooding, and rising health concerns, while authorities maintain that the project is crucial for advancing the nation’s renewable energy goals. The dispute underscores the delicate challenge of pursuing development while safeguarding local communities and natural resources; this issue highlights the tension between progress and preservation that resonates far beyond this small island.

Noise, health and displacement