TN rejects environment clearance to ONGC to explore five oil wells in two districts

Industries minister Thangam Thennarasu said the government will not allow new ONGC projects in districts covered under the Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act, 2020.

The Tamil Nadu government Tuesday said its Environment Impact Assessment Authority (TNSEIAA) has rejected ONGC’s application to drill and explore 10 oil wells in Ariyalur and five wells in Cuddalore districts.

ONGCC’s plans to drill oil wells has stirred up a controversy in the state, where environmentalists, farmers and the ruling government are opposed to any form of hydrocarbon exploration in the Cauvery basin. Chief Minister MK Stalin had also written to Prime Minister Modi asking the Union Government to not invite bids from companies for hydrocarbon exploration in the Cauvery basin. However, despite the state government’s stance, the ONGC Cauvery basin branch had applied to the TNSEIAA for clearance to drill these wells. The TNSEIAA on Monday declined to give clearance to the application for exploring five wells in Cuddalore. In its letter, the authority states that relevant documents had been missing from ONGC’s application and therefore it could not be cleared.

In the letter written to ONGC on June 21, TNSEIAA said they declined the clearance as the proponent failed to provide details on the proposed projects.

TN Chief Minister had said his government is of the view that no new hydrocarbon project should be taken up in the Cauvery basin and other neighbouring districts, to protect the livelihood of farmers and the agro-ecology of the basin.

With inputs from The Indian Express and The News Minute