Delta farmers leaders at the ONGC rig unit at Periyakudi.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam has exhorted the Union Government to ensure the job security of around 500 persons employed at the oil exploration/extraction sites of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) in the Cauvery Basin.

Addressing the media at Periyakudi near Mannargudi after viewing the oil rig capping exercise taken up by the ONGC unit on September 8, Sangam general secretary P.R. Pandian said that the capping of the well was a result of farmers’ protest against the extraction of crude oil across the Delta districts since 2013.

Meanwhile, the State government had declared the Delta region as a protected agriculture zone banning further exploration/extraction of crude oil or hydrocarbon or methane gas by the Corporation.

Mr. Pandian said the job security of around 500 persons employed by the ONGC at its various extraction units in the Cauvery Basin were in jeopardy as the PSU did not consider transferring these persons to its sites in Andhra Pradesh or Assam. “The Union Government should come forward to ensure their job security by directing the Corporation to consider their transfer to other States”, he added.