CHENNAI: Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK and AMMK among others are upping the ante against hydrocarbon explorations in Cauvery delta region. While DMK has convened a seminar, to be addressed by its president M K Stalin among others on August 28 in Thanjavur, AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Sunday charged the Centre with trying to destroy the Cauvery delta region by permitting hydrocarbon explorations.In the last few years, DMK has said Cauvery delta has been hit by drought, floods and now hydrocarbon and methane projects. "Farmers as well as agriculture workers have migrated to neighboring districts and states in search of jobs," the party said in the statement.
“Cauvery delta is the most fertile region and carries the rich legacy of the Chola empire that flourished in the region. Only agriculture and agro-related activities should be promoted here. Even if diamonds are found in the region, the people are not keen to permit any further exploration or mining activities,” Dhinakaran told an anti-hydrocarbon meeting, organized by a few political parties and NGOs in Myladuthurai.
“The people here are demanding water to be regularly released in Cauvery for carrying out agricultural activities. But, instead the Centre is allotting more and more sites for hydrocarbon explorations. Until ONGC entered the region, farmers in the Cauvery delta belt were raising three crops every year. After it started digging oil wells, saline water had spread fast, thereby affecting farm activities to a large extent,” Dhinakaran said.
“We are not blindly opposing whatever the Centre does, as it is being made out. We are ready to extend our support if the Centre does something good for the state,” Dhinakaran said.
Meanwhile, PMK founder S Ramadoss will start a campaign, on Global Warming and the need for taking preventive measures, on August 20 in Chennai. The initiative being launched by Pasumai Thayagam, a green NGO promoted by PMK, will urge the state government, local bodies and members of the public on the threats posed by global warming and the remedial steps to be taken to prevent it, PMK president G K Mani said in a statement.