Chockalingam, Chinnaiyan, Vasanthi and Saraswathy, along with six others, are planning to tell the locals of Neduvasal in Tamil Nadu what ONGC’s oil and gas business is all about.

No, they are not real persons, but fictitious characters, who are going to demystify the whole concept of hydrocarbon exploration and production in the country.

Accused of not connecting with the locals about the oil and gas exploration activity, ONGC has decided to use a Karaikal-based popular street play troupe to create awareness.

“We have been working on it. In the next few days, we will start holding nukkad nataks. In fact, we do not want to restrict it to Tamil Nadu, but use the concept to create awareness at our other assets as well,” an official associated with the campaign team of ONGC said.

The street play to create awareness about ONGC has been scripted by Kalaimamani A Susai Raj, based on inputs by the public sector major. The exercise started a few years back with a false campaign stating that ONGC is extracting methane (CBM), which was banned by the state government in 2012. The original script of the street play was about methane, but now, the play will talk about the hostile campaign and misgivings against hydrocarbons exploration and production activity in the country, the official said.

Through this play, ONGC expects to answer concerns on land acquisition, fertility of land, effects on groundwater, development of the area and livelihoods of locals, among others.

The issue at Neduvasal is purely political, officials said, adding that “now, the protesters want to meet the Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan.”

“It has now reached a point where opposition is more on why private sector has been given the acreage. What people need to understand is this has to be done quickly monetise the prospect,” an official from ONGC’s exploration team said.

comment COMMENT NOW