Tiruvarur farmers to observe fast over ONGC issue from Friday

The ONGC had been undertaking geophysical surveys and oil exploration activities in the Cauvery delta districts of Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam for more than three decades now.

In a clear escalation of their opposition to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) exploration activities in Tiruvarur, farmers have declared that they are launching a relay fast from Friday at Vikrapandiyam against alleged methane extraction survey and the “illegal detention” of five protesting farmers.

In the early hours of Wednesday, police allegedly picked up five farmers who were part of the protest team from their houses at Vikrapandiyam near Mannargudi, which the protesters say violation of human rights. On its part, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has denied that its geophysical survey is neither for methane extraction nor is it associated with any private entity for such activities in the region.

The ONGC had been undertaking geophysical surveys and oil exploration activities in the Cauvery delta districts of Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam for more than three decades now. But in recent years, the controversy surrounding the coal-bed methane extraction endeavour in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts had assumed huge proportions. Farmers fear that the project would end all agricultural activities and turn the region into a desert.

Many political parties voiced their opposition to the project as a result of which the State government directed scrapping of the sanctions and the Centre directed the agencies to wind up the operations. When the ONGC field staff at Vikrapandiyam village set up temporary shelters to pursue geophysical survey some days ago, agitated villagers led by the Tamilaga Cauvery Delta Farmers Sangam Coordinator P.R. Pandian and panchayat president Selvaraj resisted the attempt and reportedly ransacked the shelters forcing the team to scurry for safety. The ONGC promptly filed a complaint against 30 farmers including, Mr. Pandian for the “vandalism” following which Mr. Pandian and eight other accused persons secured advance bail from the Madras High Court.

But in the early hours of Wednesday, police teams searched house of specific farmers in the village and took into custody five persons while other police teams searched houses at Irulneekki and Kottur areas nearby for more persons.

“Those picked up have not been produced before the judicial authorities and they are not in police stations either. This is a condemnable human rights violation by the police and smacks of illegality. We are planning to prefer a complaint against the police and the Tiruvarur district administration,” said Mr. Pandian, adding that farmers and various associations would launch a relay fast from Friday to condemn the arrests.

Seismic survey: ONGC

Meanwhile, the ONGC has come out with a statement saying its geophysical surveys were not aimed at methane extraction but was involved in undertaking a seismic survey at Ayyampettai, Manakkal and Valangaiman regions of Tiruvarur district.

It has further stated that it is not involved in methane extraction in the State on its own or in association with any other agency or institution. It has also appealed to the farmers and public not to be misled by rumours, while seeking their cooperation for the seismic survey in the region.