Jayakumar to explain agri zone plan to Centre

Recently, the Central government decided to exempt environment clearance certificate for hydrocarbon extraction in the country and the announcement of the state government is a direct contradiction to the decision of the Centre. To explain the announcement to the Centre and to seek clearance, state government nominated Jayakumar as its representative to hold talks in Delhi.

“At a time when all the farmers’ association and opposition parties have welcomed the announcement of Chief Minister, DMK is the only party that has not welcomed it. DMK president MK Stalin is the only person who is not comfortable about the announcement,” said Jayakumar, while addressing reporters at Chennai airport.

Chief Minister made a historic announcement of making Cauvery Delta a protected zone and the announcement was welcomed by all sections of society. Farmers hailed the decision as a victory to their long-drawn struggle against hydrocarbon project.

However, the DMK urged the state government to implement the announcement and not to make it lie as a mere announcement. Though at the outset DMK did not oppose the announcement, Jayakumar said that the principal opposition party did not like the announcement.

Officials in Agriculture Department said that since agriculture is a state subject state government has rights to take decision on announcing Delta as an agriculture protected zone, but already the Union government has granted license for hydrocarbon exploration in Cauvery Delta region. To avoid contradiction, Jayakumar was sent to Delhi immediately, the day after the announcement was made, said officials.

Meanwhile, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran urged the state to withdraw cases filed against the farmers and protestors in Delta region particularly in Needamangalam and Kathiramangalam. Addressing reporters at Bengaluru, the RK Nagar MLA said that the government had buckled to the peaceful protests of the farmers. This is a victory to the farmers and the state should now drop the charges against the farmers and the office-bearers of various farmers’ associations. “Palaniswami has been boasting that he is a farmer and now it is for him to prove that he is a farmer by dropping all the projects that are against farmers,” Dhinakaran added.