The Tamil Nadu government’s Department of Industries has issued an advertisement for land acquisition to build a crude oil refinery.
The @arivalayam Govt is as bad as the previous @AIADMKOfficial Govt & have begun to target Hindu Temple Lands for Govt needs. This proposal is against Section 34 of TN HRCE Act, Order of Division Bench of Madras High Court. @Swamy39 @BJP4India @vhsindia @PKSekarbabu @mkstalin pic.twitter.com/xbINzBxxVo
— trramesh (@trramesh) May 19, 2021
The land to be acquired includes 2.37 acres of land belonging to the Agastheeswarar Swamy and Srinivasa Perumal Swamy temples in Narimanam, Nagapattinam district.
The notice states that a 9 MMTPA crude oil refinery of the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited would be set up in the Narimanam Village in Nagapattinam district. It has called the land owners of these respective survey numbers to notify their objections with the District Revenue Officer within 30 days of publishing the notice. It also says that petitions of the land owners would be dismissed if objections are not registered within 30 days or if the petition does not in the required format.
The Madras High Court had earlier issued a stern order that the temple land should not be used for any purpose other temple development work.
It’s worth noting that the entire 2.37 acres are agricultural property. The DMK, when it was in opposition, was a staunch opponent of methane and gas projects. But now, it is not only acquiring agricultural land but also setting up a crude oil refinery in the temple land. It is also noteworthy to mention that the earlier AIADMK government had declared the Cauvery delta zone as protected zone where only industries related to agriculture can be set up.
Devotees and the general public have demanded that the DMK government respect the court’s order and Hindu sentiments by dropping the proposal to acquire temple land.
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