DMK legislator for closure of 700 existing hydrocarbon wells

“Recently, the state government passed an Act to announce Cauvery Delta as protected zone, but the Act exempts all the already announced projects in Cauvery Delta. If the state government is really concerned on the welfare of the farmers all the 700 hydrocarbon wells in theDelta region should be shut down,” said Regupathy, during the debate in the Assembly.

The legislation to make Cauvery Delta a protected agricultural zone has been welcomed by farmers and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was felicitated by the farmers for the Act. However, the Act will not have effect on the already sanctioned projects, he added.

Regupathy accused the state government of trying to protect the ongoing projects. “The Act to protect Cauvery Delta is nothing but a legal protection to the already sanctioned hydrocarbon projects announced by the Central government. Why is government hesitant to shut down the already announced hydrocarbon projects,” asked Regupathy.

To his query, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami replied that the state with the consent of the Union government has passed the Act and according to the Act state has the authority to deny any new hydrocarbon project in the state. The Chief Minister also blamed the DMK for bringing in hydrocarbon projects in the state.

“It was DMK which gave permission for hydrocarbon projects when the party was in power and after turning into opposition party DMK is now opposing the hydrocarbon projects. DMK is now worried that they could not do politics in the Cauvery Delta region due to the Act to protect the Delta region,” said Palaniswami.

The Chief Minister further said that the ongoing projects in Cauvery Delta were permitted during the DMK regime and so they could not be shut down.