CPI opposes hydrocarbon project in Tamil Nadu

R.Mutharasan, Secretary of the Tamil Nadu unit of the CPI, on Monday voiced strong opposition to the granting of permission to companies like Vedanta and the ONGC to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for drilling hydrocarbon wells in Tamil Nadu. In a statement, he said that at a time when the demand is to declare the Cauvery delta region an agricultural zone, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government continues to support multinational companies on hydrocarbon exploration.

Chennai: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday voiced strong opposition to the granting of permission to companies like Vedanta and the ONGC to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for drilling hydrocarbon wells in Tamil Nadu.

In a statement issued here, R.Mutharasan, Secretary of the Tamil Nadu unit of the CPI, said at a time when the demand is to declare the Cauvery delta region an agricultural zone, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government continues to support multinational companies on hydrocarbon exploration.

Mutharasan condemned the Centre's permission to drill hydro-carbon wells in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) and Karaikal (Puducherry).

He also questioned Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami's silence on the development.

Main opposition party DMK, PMK (part of the ruling AIADMK-led alliance) and others have opposed the project.