Chennai: The Tamilnadu government has rejected applications filed by ONGC seeking environmental permission for digging 15 oil wells in the State while announcing setting up of an expert committee to study the impact of hydrocarbon extraction in the State. Replying to M H Jawahirullah of MMK during the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address in the State Assembly Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu said ONGC has sought permission for digging oil wells in 10 places in Ariyalur district and five places in Cuddalore districts. However the State Pollution Control Board has rejected the 15 Envrionmental Impact Assessment (EIA) applications of the ONGC for digging oil wells in the two districts. The applications were rejected yesterday for want of information on the socio-economic impact of the project and deficiency in the applications. Thennarasu also categorically stated that no permission would be given for exploration drilling or extracting oil hydrocarbon in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur also. Responding to Jawahirullah plea urging the government to stop all exploration and drilling activities in Delta districts the Minister said an expert committee will be constituted to study the impact of oil and hydrocarbon exploration and extraction on ecology and livelihood of farmers in non-delta districts in the state. The expert committee would study the impact of oil/hydrocarbon exploration on ground water soil and livelihood of farmers on districts other than the aforesaid ones he said. The Minister also said the committee would elicit public views to assess the impact of such projects on the food security and livelihood of people in the districts. The Minister also assured that the state government would not grant permission to extract methane and shale gas which will affect the ecology and livelihood of farmers in the State.

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