The Communist Party of India, an ally of the ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu, has said it will strongly oppose the acquisition of land for Tata's proposed titatium-dioxide project in the state.

"Why should large portions of land be acquired for a single project and why could not the Union government take it up rather than simply entrusting it to a private group," CPI national executive member R Nallakannu said on Sunday.

The CPI will pose stiff resistance to the project, he said adding a detailed report about the party's stance on the issue would be submitted to the government.

Nallakannu, a former state secretary of the party, said a CPI delegation under his leadership visited areas like Sathankulam and Radhapuram in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts to collect first hand information from the villagers.

The villagers were in fear and panic and were worried about the possible loss of their livelyhood, he said.

Nallakannu also did not accept the government's claim that out of the 16,000 acres required for the project, only 315 acres of land was fertile.