Decline ONGC's proposal to dig exploratory wells in Ramnad: EPS to TN govt

CHENNAI: Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday demanded the state government to immediately reject the applications from ONGC to the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), seeking approval to dig hydrocarbon exploration wells in Ramanathapuram district.

Palaniswami took to social media to flag the issue, stating that ONGC had submitted an application to drill 20 exploratory wells in Ramanathapuram district. It was unacceptable as the previous AIADMK regime had declared the Cauvery Delta region as a protected agriculture zone with an objective to protect groundwater and agriculture. It was also aimed to prevent the environment from the irreversible damages due to methane and hydrocarbon projects.

Recalling the MoU signed regarding hydrocarbon projects in previous DMK regime, Palaniswami claimed that the then deputy CM MK Stalin signed the MoU. The DMK leader, later, gave a contradictory statement that he signed the MoU without reading the terms properly. Hence, then deputy CM and present CM should not remain careless in such a key issue and act promptly to protect the resources and environment of the state. He should end the ONGC’s initiative at the beginning stage itself, he urged.