Oil's not well in TN: Protests against exploration put ONGC in a spot

The state government's stand and the protests against exploration have put ONGC in a spot, with recoverable oil and gas reserves worth $8.5 billion stuck

In the 2014 Tamil movie Kaththi, actor Vijay gives a long speech on how multinationals are trying to exploit farmers for their land. He also talks about hydrocarbon (methane) exploration in the state, besides hinting at groundwater depletion due to industrialisation. Reserving the 2G scam for the punchline, he says, “Cell phone is a luxury but water is a necessity.”

When asked about state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC’s) exploration activities in the state, KV Elangeeran, president of the Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Federation, echoed the reel hero. “Water is a necessity,” he said. “Exploration should be done in on-land