Chennai: During a heated debate in the Assembly today, Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam said the State government has not granted permission for any hydrocarbon project in Tamilnadu.
“No company has been given nod for the project. Even though ONGC has sought approval, the State government has denied it,” he said.
He was responding to a special attention calling motion brought by the main opposition DMK.
Shanmugam further said it was the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam who gave the green signal for the project during its tenure.
“Not just hydrocarbon, the State government will not permit any project that is against nature. Even if the Central government approves such schemes, the State government’s permission is needed,” he said. Leader of Opposition in the House, M K Stalin said though the State government is saying that it has not given permission for the project, the Central government is somehow trying to implement it here.
DMK MLA Durai Murugan said DMK government gave permission just for reviewing the project and there is nothing wrong in it.
Earlier in the day, Congress legislators staged a walkout as they were denied permission to clarify about their party chief Rahul Gandhi’s statement about building dam in Mekedatu during his campaign for Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
On 1 July, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami pointed out Rahul’s statement and said members of Congress which is in alliance with the JD(S) government in Karnataka have not taken any step to release Cauvery water.