Chief Minister Jayalalithaa must take a firm stand against shale gas exploitation in delta districts keeping in mind the concerns of farmers, general secretary of the Tamizhaga Cauvery Farmers’ Association P.R. Pandian said. “It will be good if Ms. Jayalalithaa conveys in unequivocal terms the concerns of delta farmers to the ONGC delegation scheduled to meet her on Saturday,” he said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.

Expressing shock over the planned meeting , Mr. Pandian said it was sad that while the delta farmers did not get an opportunity to apprise her of their difficulties, especially their fears over the shale gas exploitation, the ONGC team was meeting her. The Chief Minister must convey the farmers’ fears over shale gas exploitation by taking an unequivocal stand against any form of natural resources exploration that disconcerted farmers. The government had barred coal bed methane exploration owing to sustained opposition from the farmers and a similar action should be taken against shale gas exploration, Mr. Pandian observed.