Centre won't implement Hydrocarbon project if TN doesn't want it: Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan

The Centre will not implement the Hydrocarbon project in Tamil Nadu if the state government gave it in writing that it does not want it, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said today.

"The state government has said that it will not permit the Hydrocarbon project... The same has been stated in the assembly also. But if a written request is given not to implement the project, the Centre will not do it," he told reporters here.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami had yesterday told the assembly that he had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi that Tamil Nadu would not allow any project affecting farmers' interest.

On the protest against ONGC at Kathiramangalam village in Thanjavur district, he alleged that some forces were behind the agitation.

The state government should intervene and allay the apprehensions of the people, he said.

The village had on June 30 witnessed a clash between police and locals protesting a "leak" in an ONGC pipeline.

On frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, Minister of State (Road Transport, Highways and Shipping) Radhakrishnan said, Modi has taken steps to resolve the problems of the fishermen by taking up the issue with the Sri Lankan government.

"It is not acceptable to harass the innocent fishermen...Steps will be taken to secure the release of the fishing boats and the fishermen," he said.

Radhakrishanan also wondered how the Tamil Nadu government could claim that there was law and order in the state, when terrorists were being arrested.

He claimed that there was information that several banned outfits were working with Chennai as their base and the intelligence officials should work more effectively and efficiently to control these forces.

Two persons from Assam were taken into custody from a private factory in Coimbatore yesterday for suspected links with the separatist outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland.

On July 4, Rajasthan Police's Anti Terrorism Squad had detained a man from Chennai in connection with its probe into a case of funding the terror group ISIS.