States »SoutPosted at: Jun 22 2021 5:13PM ONGC's EIA plea for digging 15 oil wells in two districts rejected : Thennarasu
Chennai, June 22 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government has rejected
applications filed by ONGC seeking environmental permission for
digging 15 oil wells in the State, while announcing setting up of an
expert committee to study the impact of hydrocarbon extraction in
non-delta districts of the State.
Replying to M H Jawahirullah of MMK during the debate on the motion
of thanks to the Governor for his address in the State Assembly, Industries
Minister Thangam Thennarasu said ONGC has sought permission for
digging oil wells in 10 places in Ariyalur and five places in Cuddalore
districts.
However, the State Pollution Control Board has rejected the
15 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) applications of the
ONGC for digging oil wells in the two districts.
The applications were rejected yesterday for want of information
on the socio-economic impact of the project and deficiency in the
applications.
Mr Thennarasu also categorically stated that no permission would
be given for exploration, drilling or extracting oil, hydrocarbon in the
Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur also.
Responding to Mr Jawahirullah plea urging the government to stop
all exploration and drilling activities in delta districts, the Minister said
an expert committee will be constituted to study the impact of oil and
hydrocarbon exploration and extraction on ecology and livelihood of
farmers in non-delta districts in the state.
The expert committee would study the impact of oil/hydrocarbon
exploration on ground water, soil and livelihood of farmers on
districts other than the aforesaid one’s, he said.
The minister also said the committee would elicit public views
to assess the impact of such projects on the food security and
livelihood of people in the districts.
The Minister also assured that the state government would not
grant permission to extract methane and shale gas, which will
affect the ecology and livelihood of farmers, in the State.
UNI GV 1710