Elections In Mind? Tamil Nadu Cancels Clearance To ONGC Hydrocarbon Wells After Outcry Over Environmental Concerns

The Tamil Nadu government has announced it will move to cancel the environmental clearance granted to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for drilling 20 onshore exploratory hydrocarbon wells in Ramanathapuram district, following strong backlash from political parties, farmers, and environmental groups, the Indian Express reported.

The clearance, issued by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on 11 March but posted online only recently, allowed ONGC to drill wells up to 3,000 metres deep across a 1,403 sq km block in the Ramnad sub-basin.

The project area lies close to the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and several bird sanctuaries.

Each well was projected to take up to four months to complete at a cost of nearly Rs 34 crore.

The move sparked immediate criticism, with opposition parties and activists warning that the project would threaten agriculture, groundwater, and fragile coastal ecosystems.

Many accused the ruling DMK of backtracking on earlier promises to block such projects, especially in the Cauvery delta region. The controversy has revived memories of earlier protests against methane and hydrocarbon projects that forced both the state and the Centre to retreat.

Environmental groups also flagged procedural irregularities, noting that the approval was posted on an outdated portal instead of the mandated Parivesh platform.

Activist collectives warned of widespread resistance if ONGC attempted to move forward.

The wells were planned across six taluks in Ramanathapuram district and one in Sivaganga district. ONGC had applied for clearance in October 2023, but still requires a Petroleum Exploration License from the state industries department before proceeding.

With state elections expected in early 2026, the swift rollback highlights the political sensitivity of hydrocarbon projects in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK has sought to consolidate support among farmers and coastal communities.

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