Villagers and others from nearby hamlets staged a protest at Neduvasal and hoisted black flags there.
Students from several parts of Tamil Nadu also participated in the protest.
CPI(M) State Secretary G Ramakrishnan said due to hydrocarbon extraction project, "a situation is arising wherein the livelihood of the people will be affected not only in Neduvasal village but in the entire Pudukottai district."
Ramakrishnan, who is also the leader of the three party bloc People's Welfare Front told reporters at Neduvasal that the whole of Pudukottai district faced the prospect of "desertification."
(REOPEN MES18)
A Madurai report said heads of 70 villages decided to file a petition before the National Green Tribunal seeking to stop execution of the exploration for the Project.
At a meeting, they decided to form a committee to take up the issue with the NGT and also resolved to request the Tamil Nadu government to pass aresolution against the project in the Assembly.
