The banner put by the Aazhivaikkal villagers against the ONGC have created a flutter in the delta region. | Photo Credit: HANDOUT more-in Seeing the turmoil in certain villages in the State where people are resisting exploration activities of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) citing damages to the eco system, Aazhivaikkal villagers have put up banners proclaiming a bar on entry to ONGC and others to explore natural resources. The lush surroundings of Aazhivaikkal village, nestled between Kalyana Odai and Grand Anicut Canal, have highly fertile fields. There are two lakes and eight ponds in the village that also boasts of a good drainage channel to make the approximately 2,000 acres a prized possession. Almost all farmers raise at least two crops during kuruvai and samba paddy seasons. But villagers fear that hydrocarbon exploration activities could imperil their agriculture. “We understand that Aazhivaikkal village is among the potential areas where the despicable sub surface hydrocarbon investigations could be undertaken in the foreseeable future. We resolved to oppose any such move at the initial stages itself and we have put up a banner asking the ONGC and other such agencies to keep off our village. This is only a manifestation of our determination to safeguard the fertile village and our livelihoods,” observes K. Ilanthirayan, a farmers association leader belonging to the village. “The Central and State governments must value our sensitivities and should not indulge in hydrocarbon exploration activities in Aazhivaikkal”, aver other villagers.

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