Communist Party of India (CPI) secretary R. Muthurasan has slammed the Centre’s decision to grant permission to a private player to dig wells for hydrocarbon exploration in the Delta region. He said that the project, if implemented, would cause severe damage to the region and destroy agriculture.
Talking to reporters, after participating in a demonstration in front of the head post office here, Mr. Mutharasan said that the Delta region was predominantly an agricultural belt and farmers were cultivating three crops a year. The region faces imminent threat of extinction if the Centre went ahead with its decision to implement the hydrocarbon exploration project in the districts.
Mr. Mutharasan said that the Centre’s decision to grant permission to Vedanta group to dig wells had a hidden agenda. The State government should have taken a tough stand to stop the project and protect farmers’ interests. The CPI would intensify protests till the Centre withdrew its permission for digging wells in the delta region, he said.