State won’t allow hydrocarbon mining, assures Shanmugham

Law Minister CVe Shanmugham informed the state Assembly that Tamil Nadu will not allow the hydrocarbon extraction project in Cauvery Delta region. “Our leader Amma (Jayalalithaa) was clear about the project and its impact and the AIADMK government will not allow the project to take off. Even if the Centre moots the project, the state will stand firm on its point. The state had also submitted before the Supreme Court stating that the TN government has taken a policy decision not to allow any hydrocarbon project that will endanger pay fields in the Delta.”

Stating that it was during 2011, the DMK gave its nod for Centre’s Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, Shanmugham categorically said the AIADMK government had not granted permission to either explore or produce hydrocarbon.

DMK MLA TRB Raja, raising the issue, said the environment and water resources would be affected if the hydrocarbon projects are executed and alleged that there were reports of the Centre permitting companies to extract hydrocarbon along the coastal areas too. A human chain protest was also held against the project, Raja said. The MLA, representing Mannargudi in Tiruvarur, urged that the Delta region in the state be declared as a protected special agricultural zone.

In response, Shanmugham, who also holds the portfolios of mines and law, said Tamil Nadu has so far not given permission for any hydrocarbon related projects. Though 13 applications were received for exploration and production from corporate companies the state government has not given permission to anyone, the Minister said.

Though offshore initiatives are dealt by the Centre, states will still have a say as Coastal Zone Management Authority is under the state. Steps would be taken to oppose any offshore hydrocarbon projects in the state, Shanmugham assured.

The Minister also recorded that it was the DMK which signed an MoU during the previous regime with Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited for a Coal Bed Methane initiative in Tamil Nadu.

DMK leader Duraimurugan objected to the Minister’s remark and said it was only an MoU for exploration and not a license for production. To this Shanmugham asked why the permission was given in the first place to study the project when the state’s stand was against hydrocarbon extraction.