Anti-ONGC stir continues in Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur, shops remain shut

Thanjavur: The protest by locals against the ONGC's oil exploration project in a village in the district continued with shops remaining shut for the fifth day on Wednesday and agitators picketing a government office.

The protesters at Kathiramangalam are demanding the release of those arrested in connection with the violence on June 30 during an agitation over 'leak' in a ONGC pipeline and stoppage of the exploration work, citing safety concerns.

Expressing solidarity with the agitating public, shop owners in the village have shut their establishments since July 1.

Efforts by the district administration to persuade the traders to open the shops failed today and the latter along with the residents picketed the Tiruvidaimarudur Tahsildar office, pressing their demands.

Members of the public also joined the shop-owners in the picketing and raised slogans, condemning the ONGC exploration work as tension prevailed in the village.

Meanwhile, District Collector A Annadurai said the ONGC would pay Rs. 60,000 as compensation to one Sriram, whose paddy field was affected by oil spill due to leakage in the pipeline.

Speaking after a public hearing at the Taluk office, the Collector said the police presence in the village, beefed up since June 30, had been reduced.

He also sought to allay fears of the villagers about contamination of drinking water (due to the oil exploration) and said five lakh litres of drinking water was supplied everyday.

Locals in Kathiramangalam have been up in arms against the leak in an ONGC pipeline.

A public protest over the leak had turned violent on June 30, leading to use of "minimum force" by police, which came in for criticism from the opposition parties in the state.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami had told the state Assembly on July 3 that the situation in the village was "under control."