In 2014-2015, farmers protested against ONGC’s measures to explore hydrocarbon and shell gas in Cauvery delta. Following the protest, the government assured that it had not issued permission to dig borewells. However, ONGC claimed that the government failed to process the application within the stipulated time and started exploratory works in Sholanganallur in Tiruvarur.

The government had constituted a committee to ascertain the damages caused by the exploration measures. The committee recommended the district Collector to take a final decision on the issue. Based on the recommendations, the collector should ban exploration and new borewells. Also, the Board should conduct a detailed inspection in Cauvery delta to check illegal borewells and to ban ONGC activities permanently in the region.

We requested the Chairman to forward the farmers’ concern to the Chief Minister and ban the ONGC activities. He explained that the board is closing illegal wells as it had stopped issuing permissions after 2015.