The Southern bench of the National Green Tribunal has vacated its interim stay issued on the methane gas project undertaken by ONGC and GAIL in the districts of Thanjavur and Thiruvarur.
In his petition, P R Pandia of Mannargudi in Thiruvarur said ONGC had initiated a coal bed methane exploration and production project in the Cauvery basin in Thanjavur and Thiruvarur. After a gas leakage in 2014, which was followed by protests from people, the state and the Centre cancelled the licence of ONGC in July 2014.
The company , however, suddenly restarted the project without obtaining prior approval from authorities in July 2015, the petition said. ONGC along with GAIL was attempting to exploit the natural resources without following the mandatory requirements, it said. The tribunal issued a stay order. On Monday , ONGC submitted an affidavit stating no methane extraction work was being carried. The second bench of judicial member P Jothimani and expert member R Nagendran then vacated the interim stay and posted the matter to August 18 for further hearing.
