500 court arrest during protest against ONGC

Over 500 protesters, including VCK’s Thol Thirumavalavan and CPM’s K Balakrishnan, were arrested.

The Federation of Anti-ONGC Operations has been protesting for a long time against the oil extraction activity in the delta districts alleging that it contaminates ground water and hampers agricultural activities. 

They said the ONGC, for the last several decades, had been drilling wells in many districts and particularly in the Cauvery delta districts to explore oil and gas. However, most of the wells do not possess the mandatory Pollution Control Board clearance and that it was flagged by the Cauvery Delta Watch Group through Rights To Information queries. 

The protesters pointed out that the ONGC proposed to drill 39 more wells in the delta districts and alleged that drinking and irrigation water resources and the soil have been adversely affected due to its operations. 

On Tuesday, the protesters led by G Tirunavukkarasu, President of the Organic Farmers’ movement of Tamil Nadu gathered at Ammapettai. Thirumavalavan, Balakrishnan, P Maniyarasan (Tamil Desiya Periyakkam), Ayyanapuram C Murugesan (Tamilar Desiya Munnani), Velmurugan (Tamizhaga Valvurimai Katchi), Jawahirullah (MMK), Tehlan Baqavi (SDPI) and others addressed the protesters.