Coimbatore: Protests broke out in Coimbatore on Saturday, demanding that the hydrocarbon project in Neduvasal in Pudukkottai district be dropped. A group of protestors from the student's joint forum against the methane project gathered in front of Tatabad electricity board office, raising slogans condemning the Central government for the hydrocarbon project.
The protesters demanded that state government oppose the project, which threatens the life of farmers in Pudukkottai district. As the agitation took place without police permission, 27 students including two girls were arrested.
In a similar protest, a group of more than 50 members belonging to the ‘National Common Public Movement’ gathered in front of Coimbatore South taluka office on Saturday and staged a protest condemning the Central government for attempting to implement the hydrocarbon project forcefully at Neduvasal.
The Movement’s district president Selvaraj told the DC that the Centre was not ready to set up the Cauvery management Board even after the direction of the Supreme court. After the death of former Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, there was no strong leader to voice the State’s concerns to the Central government, he pointed out. As many as 51 of its volunteers including 12 women were arrested for the protest without police permission.
