Palaniswami slams DMK government over clearance for hydrocarbon exploration

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday blamed the Tamil Nadu government for the clearance accorded by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for drilling onshore exploratory wells in Ramanathapuram district. (On Sunday, the State government said it had asked the SEIAA to withdraw the clearance.)

Whenever the DMK comes to power, such anti-farmer initiatives are implemented, Mr. Palaniswami said, citing the move for methane gas exploration in the Cauvery delta region a few years ago. “It was under the earlier DMK government that the MoU for the exploration in the Cauvery delta was signed. It was the AIADMK government that declared the delta a protected agriculture zone,” he said.

‘Sensitive issue’

“This is a sensitive issue. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu [also handling the Environment portfolio] now claims that the government was not aware of the permission granted for hydrocarbon exploration in Ramanathapuram and advised the SEIAA to withdraw it. The permission had been granted for hydrocarbon exploration at 20 places in Ramanathapuram district, against the interests of farmers, with the knowledge of the government,” Mr. Palaniswami alleged.

“Don’t they have the power to grant permission, if they can advise the SEIAA to withdraw it,” he wondered, speaking in Tiruchi as part of his ‘Makkalai Kappom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom’ campaign.

Coming down heavily on Minister for Municipal Administration K.N. Nehru, who represents the Tiruchi West Assembly segment, Mr. Palaniswami said the performance of his department was the worst, with most of public complaints pertaining to its functioning.

“Property tax has been increased 100% by the DMK government for residential properties and 150% for shops in Corporation limits. Drinking water charges have been increased. This is the only government which has imposed a tax for solid waste management,” he said. The charges for granting plan approvals had been increased. The prices of construction materials had gone up steeply, he added.

‘Complaints of land-grab’

Whenever the DMK came to power, law and order would deteriorate in the State, he said, citing the “widespread circulation of drugs”. Complaints of land-grab by elected representatives and a ‘benami’ real estate company were rampant in Tiruchi. “We will inquire into these complaints and retrieve the land, if there are irregularities,” he said. Welfare schemes conceived and implemented by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and continued by him were discontinued. “You should compare the situation under the two governments and support the AIADMK,” he told the electorate.

Speaking at Manapparai earlier, he accused the DMK government of closing down the Amma Clinics, out of political vengeance, thus depriving the poor of medical assistance in their neighbourhood. He said the clinics would be revived if the party returned to power. As the clinics were well received and brought a good name to the AIADMK, the DMK closed them down. “If you vote us back to power, we will open 4,000 Amma Clinics, twice the number closed by the DMK government,” he said.

‘15 lakh medical camps’

Criticising Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for launching the Nalam Kakkum  Stalin scheme towards the end of his term, Mr. Palaniswami said, “He has started thinking of people’s welfare only four years after coming to power. Under 10 years of AIADMK rule, 15 lakh medical camps were held across the State, with the help of 410 medical teams. Between 2011 and 2021, over 250 primary health centres were opened and 168 PHCs were upgraded as 30-bed hospitals with additional doctors,” he said.

He alleged that Mr. Stalin had lost the confidence of people and the DMK cadre. “That is why, the party has been forced to go door to door to enlist members,” he said.