Thanjavur ryots seek closure of illegal ONGC wells

In their petition, they alleged that none of the wells had the approval of the state Pollution Control Board and urged to take steps against all the wells immediately. 

Led by G Thirunavukkarasu, convener of the anti-ONGC protest committee, the farmers charged that the ONGC for many decades had been drilling wells in different districts of the state, particularly in the delta region to explore oil and gas. 

Referring to an RTI response obtained by the Cauvery Delta Watch group, they claimed that the wells did not have the necessary clearance from the TNPCB. The information had also shown that the institutions vested with the monitoring of the ONGC operations did not have details on the number of oil wells drilled in the delta region, the number of wells in operation and abandoned. 

They also pointed out the authorities concerned did not have an emergency plan for rescue and relief in the event of an accident. 

However, when people stage agitations against the ONGC wells, cases are foisted against the protesters and they are even threatened with police force, the petitioners claimed. 

The petitioners told media persons that the collector said had assured to look into the issue. They said if the district administration failed to act, they would lay siege to the oil wells functioning in the district on March 20. They also alleged the corporate companies are targeting the delta districts to drive out the people and to mine the coal deposits in the region.