Quash nod for hydrocarbon project: Plea

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar before whom the PIL came up adjourned the matter to June 8, for further hearing.

Tamil scholar and president of Gandhiya Makkal Iyyakam M Thamizharuvi Manian submitted that the project was granted in clear violation of the Supreme Court Judgment wherein it is held that such tenders should be only through public tender and not through E-bid.

Submitting that the project was awarded on extraneous consideration and not through fair and transparent policy, he said the wife of the former union minister for civil aviation and heavy industries and public enterprises had 19.66 per cent share and she was a director in the company, Manian said, adding that the ex-minister’s brothers too had shares in the company. 

This clearly revealed that the project has been offered in clear violation of breach of privilege and misuse of public office, he said. 

He also noted that ONGC wells in Cauvery Delta region had an adverse impact on farming activities and the centre was indifferent in its approval of the hydrocarbon extraction schemes. 

“It is evident that the Centre targets Tamil Nadu and uses it as testing ground for projects harmful to the environment and people,” he said.