Mumbai: Tata Steel would go ahead with its Rs2,500-crore titanium project in Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu, despite opposition due to "unruly elements and illegal mining" in the area.

"The project is definitely on," said Tata Steel managing director B Muthuraman.

He said the previous AIADMK government failed to acquire land for its titanium project in Tuticorin district although the company had entered into a memorandum of understanding with it for setting up the project as far back as 2002.

Muthuraman said the previous government could not acquire the land due mainly to opposition from unruly elements. The project did not take off as the then chief minister Jayalalithaa did not clear the file on the project, he added.

"We want to do the project with the support of the people. Almost three-fourth of the people in the area are supporting the project. The remaining have some doubts. We will clear the doubts in the minds of those people. We want to execute the project because the people want it," he said.

"I am willing to have a debate with any cross-section of the people about the project," Muthuraman said.

However, as things stand, the DMK government is also facing opposition from its allies as well as opposition parties over the titanium project.