Protest against hydrocarbon project temporarily withdrawn

The 22-day-old agitation by the villagers of Neduvasal in the district against the proposed hydrocarbon extraction and exploration project was temporarily withdrawn today.
Leaders of the Action Committee against the project held a meeting today and announced the decision to temporarily withdraw the agitation, considering the Centre's recent "assurance" to Tamil Nadu that it would not implement any project inimical to the interests of the state.
Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan had last week said the Union Petroleum Minister himself had said that he would look into the issue if the people had any doubt.
"The Centre will not implement a project which the people feel is inimical to the state's farming sector and its people," he had stated.

Moreover, there was a "possibility" of a meeting between them and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on March 15, the Action Committee leaders said.
Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami had also urged the protesters to withdraw the stir, saying the state will not implement any project which was against the interests of the people.
The stir was temporarily withdrawn also taking into account the ongoing 10th and 12th standard board examinations, the Action Committee leaders said.