Avoid confusing statements, anti-methane activist tells TN govt on ONGC projects

Such contradictory statements confuse the public and the state government should come out with its stand on the issue, said Prof T Jayaraman, coordinator of anti-methane projects here on Friday.

“In order to make it convenient for the ONGC to drill its extraction wells, the police arrested three anti-nuclear activists in Kulikarai near Kadambakudi in Tiruvarur and six in Vallur near Thirumakottai in Mannargudi. The anti-methane project committee strongly condemns the acts. They should be released without any condition.” 

Charging that the ONGC had erected pipes without even testing the groundwater despite repeated appeals through the Tiruvarur Collector, Jayaraman said the police have been extending their support to the ONGC. He also claimed the Centre planned to extract shale gas and oil in an area of 5,000 sq km in the Cauvery delta region under Open Acreage Licensing Programme and the ONGC has signed an agreement with Shale and six other multinational companies to extract oil and gas. “A tender in this regard would be called in Delhi in April but the state government has not initiated any step to prevent this project. They are diverting the issue with the distribution of welfare assistance,” charged Jayaraman. 

“The state government should openly clear its stand and not confuse the people with contradictory statements,” he said. Meanwhile, eight protesters who were against laying underground pipeline by GAIL through the farmlands and habitations were detained by the Mannargudi police on Friday and later released after talks held by Mannargudi MLA T R B Raaja. Around 40 workers of the GAIL and the contractor descended on the village with a strong contingent of police. When the workers started work after pooja, locals tried to stall the work.