Anti-hydrocarbon stir spreads, as Ariyalur jumps on the bandwagon

The farmers, who assembled at a black gram field in Puthukudi village, raised slogans against the project and claimed that the Cauvery delta region would turn into a desert if it is implemented.

They also condemned the police for registering cases against those who opposed the pipe laying works by GAIL. The farmers also demanded the release of activists who were lodged in prison for protesting against the project.

Meanwhile, a meeting of all political parties, farmers’ associations and civil societies organisations was convened in Thanjavur on Tuesday. It was decided at the meeting to stage a protest on June 4, demanding the scrapping of the exploration project in the delta region.

A resolution passed in the meeting pointed out that the Central government had given permission to ONGC and Vedanta for hydrocarbon exploration under the single licence scheme even while the election process was under way. The companies have even commenced their work, it pointed out.

“Since agricultural activities, which were nurtured for over many centuries in the Cauvery delta region, is in peril and lakhs of farmers and workers are on the verge of losing their livelihood, it has been decided to continue with the protests till the project is scrapped,” another resolution said.

G Neelamegam, District secretary of the CPM presided over the meeting. Johnson (Congress), G Udhayakumar (MDMK), Chockka Ravi (VCK), Jainulabudeen (IUML), M A Bharathi (CPI), Kaliappan (Makkal Adhikaram), Ayanpuram C Murugesan (Tamilar Desiya Munnani), K K R Lenin (Movement against Destruction), G Kalyanasundaram (Organic Farmers' Movement) were among those present at the meeting.