DMK, PMK slam Centre over ToR to 2 companies for proposed

The DMK Sunday flayed the Centre over the terms of reference (ToR) issued to two companies to carry out environmental impact assessment for the proposed hydrocarbon exploration projects in Tamil Nadu and urged the Election Commission to take steps to halt it.

DMK Chief Stalin demanded that the Centre immediately stop the projects as it was announced when the Model Code of Conduct was in force.

"Election Commission should come forward and ensure that the project is not implemented..," he said in a statement.

He was responding to reports of central government issuing ToR to Vedanta Ltd and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to carry out environmental impact assesment for hydrocarbon exploration projects in Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

Referring to the signing of agreements in 2018 with Vedanta Ltd and ONGC to set up 274 and 67 wells respectively by the Centre, he pointed out that farmers from the state had strongly opposed the move and also staged protests.

He alleged that