M.H. Jawahirullah, MLA from Papanasam and leader of the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, has publicly called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to revoke the environmental clearance recently granted to ONGC for drilling hydrocarbon test wells in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts.
In a strongly worded post on his official X account, Jawahirullah expressed his shock over the state government’s decision to approve hydrocarbon exploration activities that, he claims, contradict earlier promises made by the Chief Minister to protect the Cauvery delta.
He pointed out that an amendment made in 2020 allegedly influenced by Vedanta relaxed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) norms for hydrocarbon test wells. Under this amendment, such projects no longer require central government approval, detailed environmental studies, or public hearings. Citing this amendment, the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) granted ONGC clearance on 11 March 2025.
Jawahirullah also criticized the manner in which the approval was handled. Instead of uploading the clearance document to the Union government’s new PARIVESH portal, it was posted to the outdated environmentclearance.nic.in website, which he alleged was an attempt to keep the approval process under the radar and away from public scrutiny.
Recalling Stalin’s earlier declarations that hydrocarbon projects would not be allowed in Tamil Nadu and that the Cauvery basin would be safeguarded like “the pupil of an eye” Jawahirullah said this recent approval goes against those very assurances and has deeply disappointed farmers, environmentalists, and local residents alike.
He warned that the new hydrocarbon wells could cause irreversible damage to farmlands, groundwater resources, and coastal ecosystems. He further emphasized that these areas fall under the protections of the Cauvery Basin Protection Act, 2020, making such approvals not only ecologically harmful but also legally questionable.
Jawahirullah also mentioned the DMK government’s own expert committee, headed by Professor Sultan Ismail, which submitted a report in 2022 detailing the environmental and agricultural harm caused by hydrocarbon drilling. However, that report has yet to be made public. He demanded its immediate release and called for any policy decisions to be based on its findings.
#JUSTIN | முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் தலையிட்டு ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும் – ஜவாஹிருல்லா #Jawahirullah | #MKStalin | #ONGC | #Ramanathapuram | #Hydrocarbon | #Oil pic.twitter.com/YN3Yqbq48Y
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) August 24, 2025
This latest outburst by Stalin’s Islamist ally exposes the dangerous nexus between vote-bank politics and obstruction of national interest. At a time when India is striving to cut down its massive oil import bill and achieve greater energy security through domestic exploration, the DMK’s partners are openly campaigning against a project of strategic importance. What is framed as “environmental concern” is in reality a political weapon to stall development, appease pressure groups, and deny Tamil Nadu the economic benefits of responsible hydrocarbon exploration. By allowing such forces to dictate policy, Stalin risks not only undermining India’s energy independence but also cementing the image of the DMK as a party that bows to parochialism over national progress.
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