TTV, Vaiko slam State, Central govts for permitting GAIL project

In a statement, Dhinakaran, who is also the RK Nagar MLA, said the AIADMK government was ignoring the protests and the opposition from farmers in Cauvery delta districts.

“Large machinery and pipes have arrived near Sirkazhi. The farmers are in a state of agony as the pipeline project would endanger farming activities in delta region,” he said.

Demanding that the move to lay pipelines should be immediately stopped and farmers’ interests be protected, Dhinakaran said, “The AIADMK government is misusing the police and state machinery to implement a project, which is anti-farmer. CM Edappadi K Palaniswami calls this government as Amma’s government. How can this be Amma government if it is implementing projects threatening farmers’ interests.”

He also took a dig at Palaniswami for calling himself a farmer and not understanding the agrarian crisis.

Urging the State government to cancel the pipelaying activities in the delta region, Dhinakaran said that the days are numbered for both the State and Central governments.

Meanwhile, MDMK leader Vaiko condemned the State government for providing police protection to help GAIL lay its pipelines in Sirkazhi taluk of Nagapattinam district. “The entire delta region should be made a protected agricultural zone and the State government should ensure that all anti-farmer projects like methane extraction, hydrocarbon and pipelines by Gail are annulled.”

“Projects should be for people and the late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa opposed the GAIL project. The governments are run for the sake of corporate projects and they fail to understand such projects will kill agriculture, which is the lifeline of farmers,” Vaiko said in his statement. He said there is a constant fear among the farmers regarding these projects.

“Farmers in western districts have also filed a court petition. Considering the farmers’ request and the need to protect the sensitive agricultural areas, the State government should withdraw the sanctions given to GAIL,” Vaiko urged.