Agri zone status for delta notified in gazette, Petro project scrapped

A notification, which was issued in the government gazette, said that as per Section 10 of the Town and Country plan Act, the Governor hereby cancels the earlier notification. The gazette further said that a lot of objections have been received from the public vehemently opposing the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbon and demands to declare the Delta region “Ecologically Sensitive Agriculture Zone” have also been made.

“The Cauvery Delta region comprising Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts and delta blocks of Pudukkottai, Cuddalore, Tiruchy, Karur and Ariyalur districts are considered to be the rice bowl and granary of Tamil Nadu and they are also categorised under fragile sensitive wetland and agriculture zone,” the notification read, adding, “any further exploration and exploitation, apart from such activity, which already exists, may be detrimental to the environment of the sensitive zone”. The State government also directed the Collectors of Cuddalore and Nagapattinam to republish the notification in their gazettes. As per the original plan, about 256.83 square km in 45 villages of Cuddalore and Nagapattinam would constitute the PCPIR. The actual investment committed for the project was Rs 8,100 crore and employment for 13,950 persons was expected to be generated.

The other notification, which declared Cauvery Delta region as PSAZ, said there would be an authority titled the Tamil Nadu Protected Agriculture Zone Development Authority, headed by the Chief Minister as chairperson with deputy Chief Minister and six Cabinet ministers as members. In addition, district level committees, headed by the respective Collectors, will also be constituted to monitor PSAZ initiatives.