Rajya Sabha member expresses concern about methane exploration

Exploration of coal bed methane and shale gas in Tamil Nadu may lead to an agrarian crisis in the state, Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi said on Tuesday.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Kanimozhi said the areas where the gas exploration is to be conducted are highly fertile lands.

"There is a threat to environment due to coal bed methane exploration. Research shows hydraulic fracturing leads to depletion of ground water, chemical and radio active contamination of drinking water and poses a huge threat to agriculture," the DMK member said.

The member said farmers whose lands have been taken are unaware of the potential risk involved.

The Kaveri delta region is the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. It will upset the fragile ecosystem, she said.

The member said many countries have banned hydraulic fracturing due to its environmental implications.

She said energy needs of the country should not be fulfilled by causing "irreversible damage to environment".