No hydrocarbon in agri zone demand echoes in Thanjai rally

Over 2000 people, including around 800 women, converged at the TANTEX roundabout in Thanjavur town and rallied to the District Collectorate, located around 2.5 km away, holding placards. The participants raised slogans in support of their demands. They demanded the withdrawal of the hydrocarbon projects from the Cauvery delta as they said it would turn the region into a desert. They also asked the government to declare the Cauvery delta as an agricultural protected zone.

The participants in the rally also asked the government to withdraw those cases filed against protesters of the hydrocarbon project, and also close the wells that were dug across the region for the project.

The rally was backed by the confederation of farmers’ associations and was led by the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam state general secretary, V Duraimanickam, and State vice president Ravindran.

The rally participants, reaching the Thanjavur Collectorate after a few hours, sent leaders and representatives to meet the District Collector, A Annadurai. They then handed over a petition to the Collector, demanding to recommend the State government to stress the need for the withdrawal of the hydrocarbon projects.

Apart from farmers’ associations, cadre from political parties, including the CPM, the CPI, the MDMK and others participated. Since there was a huge turnout, Thanjavur Superintendent of Police SS Maheswaran monitored the situation and security was beefed up. Traffic was also diverted on the Tiruchy-Thanjavur bypass for over 1.30 hours to avert untoward incidents.