Kumbakonam: The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) will pay Rs 60,000 as compensation to Sri Ram, whose paddy field was affected by oil spill due to leakage in the ONGC pipeline on June 30 at Kathiramangalam village near Kumbakonam, said A. Annadurai, Thanjavur distict collector at Thiruvidaimaruthur on Tuesday.
Speaking after hearing the views of people of Kathiramangalam at a public hearing at the taluk office, Annadurai said that he would find out from the ONGC how long they would stay at Kathiramangalam. Infrastructure will be improved in the village.
The collector said that police force has been reduced at the village. "There are overhead tanks at eleven places in the village and five lakh litres of drinking water is supplied every day. Drinking water is not polluted and is safe, the collector said. He also said that Koraipadiyar canal in the village will be desilted over a length of seven kms at a cost of '5 lakh. Steps will be taken to lay a road to the cremation ground.
Speaking at the meeting, M. Selvam of Kathiramangalam village said that the ONGC should stop its activities and move out of the village. Protected drinking water should be supplied, a high school and a primary health centre should be opened he said.
C. Rajkumar, former village president said that tension prevailed in the village for the past 3 months. Underground water had been affected due to ONGC activities, he said.
Mahesh, Superintendent of Police, Thanjavur district, Sakthi Vel, District Revenue Officer, Gulbir Singh, Executive Director, ONGC and other officials participated.
