Over 150 panchayats adopt resolutions against ONGC

They also opposed extraction of oil, CMB and gas in the delta districts and also passed resolution directing the ONGC to quit the project from their lands and declare them as agri protected villages.

Following the government’s recent announcement that directed certain villages of Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts as Petrochemical and Petroleum investment Zone, the village gram sabha meetings came up with a new card demanding the Government to declare their Villages as “Agriculture Protected Villages”.

When the villagers came in with this resolution to a Grama Sabha meeting in Thandavapuram village near Sirkazhi on Tuesday, though the local body officials refused to accept it initially, later conceded. In Kathiramangalam, five resolutions were proposed. 

Three MLAs of various outfits but elected on the AIADMK symbol have pledged support to villagers of Kathiramangalam and promised to take up their cause with the Chief Minister.

Manithaneya Jananayga Katchi’s Thameemun Ansari, Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai’s founder U Thaniyarasu and Mukkulathor Pulipadi founder Kaunas visited the village on Monday and heard the grievances of the people.

Ansari told them that the MLAs wanted to save agricultural operations that provided livelihood to thousands of people. They were also fighting to preserve the fertile lands, he said. The MLAs informed the villagers that they had raised the project issue in the assembly and had collectively brought it to the notice of the Chief Minister. They demanded the ONGC to accept the blame for pipeline leaks and stop levelling charges that those who oppose their projects are “anti-development” and were working against the nation’s progress.