CHENNAI: Protests against hydrocarbon project in Neduvasal in Pudukottai district is picking up momentum as political parties are gearing up to jump on the bandwagon soon. MDMK leader Vaiko had declared that he would lead a protest against the scheme in Neduvasal on February 28, while People’s Welfare Front would hold a protest demo on the same day in Alangudi. PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss would hold a protest on March 3.
Vaiko alleged that the hydrocarbon project is similar to the methand project and would ruin water resources and agricultural land. He said water would have to be pumped out in huge quantities leading depletion of ground water and seepage of water, which also would be let out in the agricultural lands, ruining them fully, he said. CPM state secretary G. Ramakrishnan, CPI state secretary R. Muthrasan and VCK leader Thol. Thirumavlavan in a joint statement said no public hearing was held for the scheme which would destroy the livelihood of five lakh people. It would affect the environment, groundwater and agriculture, they said.
Charging the Centre with trying to convert the granary of Tamil Nadu into an oil field, he said the Centre is planning to award the project to a private firm. He also alleged that the Centre is only trying to deceive the people by making false announcements. The local people had started their protests a week ago and conducting demonstrations and rallies against the proposal as they fear that it would ruin agriculture in the fertile area in the tail end parts of the district. On Saturday, a two-wheeler rally was held by students and youth from eight taluks of Pudukottai district. A struggle committee comprising representatives of all the eight taluks in Pudukottai district warned its agitations would be intensified.
