Thanjavur: Joining under the banner “Cauvery Padugai Pathukappu Iyakkam” (Cauvery basin protection movement), farmers' associations, in a meeting held here, decided to organise rallies at the district headquarters in Tamil Nadu and Puduchery on July 9, protesting against the proposed hydrocarbon projects.
A resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of the movement held here on Tuesday. V.Shanmugham, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the CPI (M) presided over the meeting. V.Durai Manickam, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the CPI, A.K.S.Vijayan, former MP and state secretary of the farmers' wing of the DMK, P. R.Pandian, co-ordinator of the Thamizhaga Anaithu Vivasaya Sangangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu participated in the meeting.
Durai Manickam said that agitations will be held in the district headquarters of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Puduchery on July 9.
“The central government should cancel the proposed hydrocarbon projects given to the Vedanta group of companies and the ONGC. The Cauvery delta should be declared as a protected agro zone. The Tamil Nadu government should pass resolutions in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly against the hydrocarbon project and send it to the central government,” said Durai Manickam. The meeting also decided to take part in large numbers in the human chain to be organised from Maracanam to Ramanathapuram on June 23 against the proposed hydrocarbon project. The call for a human chain has been given by the Perazhivirku Ethirana Periyakkam. Lenin, co-ordinator of the Periyakkam also participated in the meeting.
