Accusing the previous Jayalalithaa government of not acquiring land for its titanium project in Tuticorin district due to "unruly elements and illegal mining" in the area, Tata Steel [Get Quote] on Tuesday said it would go ahead with the Rs 2,500 crore (Rs 25 billion) project.

"The project is definitely on," Tata Steel managing director B Muthuraman told reporters on Tuesday. Asked if the previous government did not acquire the land because of the unruly elements, he said "definitely".

The company had signed an MOU with the AIADMK government for the project in 2002. However, the project did not take off as the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa did not clear the file on the project.

"We want to do the project with the support of the people. Almost 3/4ths of the people in the area are supporting the project. The remaining have some doubts. We will clear those doubts in the minds of those people...We want to execute the project because the people want it," he said in the wake of stiff opposition to the project from allies of the DMK-led government and various opposition parties.

"I am willing to have a debate with any cross-section of the people about the project," he said while expressing surprise at the opposition to the project. On whether the project was being politicised, he said "I don't know."