TN CM asks PM to make public consultation mandatory for oil exploration

He added that the draft notification was not circulated as mandated and no opportunity was given to the stakeholders and to the state government to offer their views

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to maintain status quo on the requirements for environment impact assessment for off-shore and on-shore oil and gas exploration, under which it would require to conduct public consultation prior to such explorations, for Cauvery Delta region.

As per a notification in September 2006, the off-shore and on-shore oil and gas exploration, development and production project was categorised under Category A, mandating public consultation for mandatory environmental clearance for such projects. 

However, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, has issued an amendment to