"Will take decision ensuring people's interest": Minister

Tamil Nadu government today said it had not given any approval to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation to take up a hydro-carbon project at Neduvasal in Pudukottai distirct, and clarified that decisions affecting the interests of the public will not be taken.
Political parties and farmers have been staging protests over the last one week against the proposed project of the Union Government alleging that it was against the interests of the farmers.
"So far we have not given approval to take up any project like that. Only during commercial production they (ONGC) will come seeking any approval", Environment Minister K C Karuppannan told reporters on the sidelines of a function here

"Amma's (J Jayalalithaa's) Government will take a decision only after it was ensured that people's interest is protected", he said.
Traders in the locality have also decided to down their shutters on March one to express solidarity with the protesters.