Members of the AIADMK and the DMK bickered in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as soon as DMK’s Kanimozhi raised the issue of environmental pollution owing to the coal-bed methane exploration in the Cauvery delta region. The AIADMK members tried to disrupt the proceedings, and later walked out of the House.
Speaking during Zero Hour, Ms. Kanimozhi said the exploration of coal-bed methane posed a threat to environment and agriculture. The local community in the Cauvery delta region in Thanjavur, including youth activists, environmentalists and farmers were protesting against the project.
The AIADMK members were on their feet as soon as Ms. Kanimozhi referred to the damage being caused through the hydraulic fracturing method .
AIADMK’s Navaneethakrishnan was quick to point out that the exploration was allowed during the UPA government’s tenure and began to protest.
When Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien told them to allow the DMK MP to finish her speech, the AIADMK members walked out of the House. Referring to the environmental degradation in the region, Ms. Kanimozhi said research had shown that hydraulic fracturing led to depletion of groundwater, chemical and radioactive contamination of drinking water and posed a huge threat to agriculture.
Kanimozhi for moratorium on future coal-bed methane exploration projects
AIADMK’s Navaneethakrishnan says exploration was allowed during UPA government’s tenure
