Political leaders, including DMK president M.K. Stalin, PMK founder S. Ramadoss and AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran have condemned the permission granted to Vedanta and ONGC to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to extract hydrocarbon in Villupuram and Puducherry.
Recalling the people’s protest against the project, Mr. Stalin said the move to grant permission violated the election rules since the model code of conduct was still in force. “On the one hand, the BJP government and its ally, the AIADMK, have granted permission and environmental clearance for the project, and on the other, they have allowed public opinion just for namesake,” Mr. Stalin said.
Demanding the cancellation of the permission till a new government is formed at the Centre, Mr. Stalin said if the BJP government refused to cancel the project because of its ‘closeness’ with the Vedanta group, the Election Commission should intervene and cancel the permission granted for the project.
Mr. Ramadoss said if hydrocarbon projects were dangerous, allowing the Vedanta group to implement them was even more dangerous. “The group will never bother about the damage caused to the environment. It is responsible for the destruction of marine life in Thoothukudi,” he said.
Dr. Ramadoss said the Cauvery delta region and some areas in Cuddalore and Villupuram remained the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, and the hydrocarbon project would turn them into a desert.
‘CM should oppose it’
Mr. Dhinakaran said Vedanta had applied a lot of pressure on the government to obtain permission for the project.
“The Congress government in Puducherry has opposed the project. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister should also express his opposition, instead of remaining a mute spectator,” he said.
