Chennai: A day after TOI reported about the state government declaring about 23,000 hectares spread across 45 villages in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts as Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR), Pattali Makkal Katchi ( PMK ) has threatened to launch a series of agitations against the move in the two districts. Environmental activists said the Tamil Nadu government's decision would spell the end for agricultural activities in coastal hamlets.While the total area of Chennai district is 178 square kilometres, the area earmarked for the PCPIR is nearly 230 square kilometres largely comprising prime agricultural lands.PMK founder S Ramadoss on Saturday said in a statement that several lakh of cultivatable lands would be affected. Citing protests against oil and gas exploration at Neduvasal and Kadiramangalam in Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts respectively, he said, "The state government does not have the courage to announce such a harmful petrochemical project in the backdrop of continuous agitations by people against the hydrocarbon project." He claimed that the government had allowed the project due to pressure from the Centre.Demanding that the government withdraw the notification for the project, Ramadoss said, "PMK will organise a series of agitations in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts pressing for the demand."Meanwhile, environmental activists have warned that the petrochemical region will have an adverse impact on agriculture. Arun Krishnamurthy, founder of Environmentalist Foundation of India, said the decision will have an adverse impact on the ecosystem polluting fertile land. M Vetriselvan of Poovulangin Nanbargal said the hub would be a blow for Cuddalore district as it will aggravate pollution levels.

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