The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been drilling hydrocarbon resources from around the Cauvery delta for the past few decades. The government-owned enterprise commenced drilling operations in 1964 in the area and has been expanding since. It operates 24 onland fields covering an area of 27,800 sq km and and three offshore fields covering about 30,000 sq km across seven districts in the area. Cauvery basin is one of India’s seven Category I sedimentary basins: having commercial production and proven hydrocarbon resources.
Although the total area of land acquired is unavailable, reports state that around 502.58 hectares of land was acquired across the districts of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Thiruvarur alone. People who live in these areas say that the hundreds of wells that have been drilled in this area have ruined their once fertile soil, now making it unfit for agriculture. Even the groundwater is contaminated and unfit for consumption. Villagers living around the wells also complain of instances of gas and oil leaks, which are common occurrences now.
A report states that ONGC has been carrying out drilling operations illegally, violating several environmental laws and regulations and also operating without valid licenses. When information about the project was sought from various departments including the TNPCB and its district offices, ONGC, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), it was evident that none of these agencies responsible for oversight or regulation of ONGC has a complete picture of the company's operations in the area.
The same report further states that ONGC has even roped in the police in the area to silence and intimidate any voices of protest. Several villagers have been arrested and slapped with false charges over the years.
The residents here also point out that the company has done little over the years to compensate villagers for any losses suffered due to the drilling. During land acquisition for the project, only landowners were compensated, they complained.
"When they talk about land, they only think of landowners," said Shanthi, a resident of Pazhaiyapalayam village in Nagapattinam district. “Government talks to them, convinces them, and gives them money. What about us? We are dependent on the land, more than anybody else. Did anybody ask us? Did anybody give us money for our loss?”
After years of protests by farmers in the area, the Tamil Nadu government, in February 2020, announced that the Cauvery Delta would be declared a Protected Special Agriculture Zone. The Chief Minister also added that the Tamil Nadu government will not permit hydrocarbon exploration projects in the area. However, villagers point out that the existing wells will continue to be functional and the government has done nothing to compensate them for the losses that they have been suffering due to these wells.
After decades of community demands, in October 2021, ONGC agreed to dismantle the exploratory oil wells in Neduvasal, Tamil Nadu, and return the land to its original owners. The decision came shortly after Neduvasal East village panchayat passed a resolution requesting the dismantling of the wells. A team of ONGC officials inspected the wells on 4.5 acres of land in Vanakkankadu, signaling potential progress toward fulfilling the community’s long-standing demand.
The wells, dug in the early 1990s in six areas around Neduvasal, have faced consistent opposition from villagers, particularly during the 2017 protests against a proposed hydrocarbon extraction project. Despite earlier promises from district officials to dismantle the wells, little action was taken, further fueling local grievances. Past leaks from the wells have damaged nearby crops, raising concerns about environmental impacts on the community's agricultural livelihoods.
While reports indicate that ONGC plans to clear four of the six wells, villagers like protestor Ramkumar are pushing for the removal of all wells. The district administration, however, has not been formally informed of ONGC’s plans, leaving residents cautiously hopeful but watchful for concrete action.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Environmental Laws, Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai)
Case Number
Application No. 136 of 2015, Application No.176 & 178 of 2015 (SZ), Original Application No. 174 of 2017 (SZ).
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Blackmail/threats/intimidation
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
ONGC has roped in the police in the area to silence and intimidate any voices of protest. Several villagers have been arrested and slapped with false charges over the years.
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
ONGC
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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