With more students, farmers and activists joining the protest against the hydrocarbon project, residents of Neduvasal and neighbouring villages on Monday resolved to continue the agitation till the Centre shelved the project.
At the end of a three-hour long consultative meeting, residents of Neduvasal and over 75 neighbouring villages drew a plan to intensify the stir. Organised under the Neduvasal Hydrocarbon Agitation Committee, the agitators have decided to launch various forms of agitations in the days to come.
Their plans include surrendering Aadhaar, ration cards and other identification documents, forming a human chain from Neduvasal to Pudukottai, hoisting black flags and lighting traditional lamps at all houses in the villages.
The agitators decided to approach the National Green Tribunal seeking a directive to the Centre to suspend the project.
The villagers also wanted the Centre to declare the Cauvery delta region as a protected agricultural zone to thwart any exploitation of natural resources in future.
Special grama sabha meetings would be convened shortly to adopt resolutions against the hydrocarbon project.
Meanwhile, a large number of students, farmers, environmental activists and film personalities joined the protest in the village. Many of the students have been mobilising support among their friends to join the protest.
A number of youth from different parts of the State have been camping in the village for the past 10 days. They have been scientifically explaining to the people the hazards of the project. They have also been mobilising support through social media.
Stephen from Puducherry, whose legs were fractured during the jallikattu stir after he fell from a building, was among the youths camping in the village for the past 10 days.
Fertile soil
Farmers of Peravurani and Pattukottai in the adjoining Thanjavur district have also assembled in large numbers. A.V.Kumarasamy, a farmer, said Neduvasal and the surrounding villages were fertile, thanks to the Kallanai Kalvai ayacut system.Coconut cultivation has been the major source of income. Sugarcane and paddy are raised in a cluster of 50 villages.
Politicians continued to visit the village to extend support. On Monday, Seeman of Naam Tamizhar Katchi, came calling and expressed solidarity with the agitators.
Police pickets have been deployed in sufficient numbers. Students of various colleges in Tiruvarur, Pudukottai and Tiruchi districts boycotted classes to stage demonstrations against the project.
