Political parties insist they are pro-farmer. In Tamil Nadu, they face the challenge of convincing farmers that they really mean what they say. And when it comes to large industrial projects, politicians have to strike a delicate balance between agriculture and industry.
As the election pitch heightens, two resources — natural gas and coal bed methane — have emerged as major issues. Managing farmers’ perception of their party’s stand could be a decisive factor in the outcome of the polls. A couple of large projects associated with these fuels essential for industrial growth have a significant impact on nine of the 39 Parliamentary constituencies in the State.
LNG pipelineOne is an LNG pipeline that will pass through seven western districts of Tamil Nadu, and the other a coal bed methane project in two districts in the Cauvery Delta — prime paddy growing areas.
Farmers are against both, as they believe these projects will destroy their farm land and threaten their livelihood. Political parties, including the ruling AIADMK and the DMK, have expressed support for the farmers.
The Congress finds itself on weak ground on both issues, as these projects come under the purview of the Central Government. On the natural gas project, Central PSU GAIL has proposed a ₹3,200-crore natural gas pipeline project from Kochi to Mangalore.
The pipeline traverses seven districts and as many constituencies — Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore and Pollachi. Farmers are opposed to the project as the underground pipeline running through their farms will seriously constrain the use of land.
However, the project is crucial for the power-starved State, which estimates that it needs over 10 million tonnes of LNG a year to feed industry and households.
The State Government is participating in a 5-million-tonne LNG project along with IndianOil in Ennoreto the north of Chennai. The project envisages pipelines to Bangalore and Nagapattinam with links to other southern districts.
The Coal Bed Methane project is planned in Nagapattinam and Thanjavur districts. Farmers in the two districts have opposed it on environmental grounds and acquisition of farm land for the project.
Court rulingThe AIADMK has taken a pro-farmer stance on both the issues.
It has ordered that GAIL should change the pipeline alignment to ensure agriculture lands are not affected and lay the pipeline along national highways. The issue went to court and the Madras High Court ordered in favour of GAIL. The State Government has appealed to the Supreme Court.
P Kandasamy, General Secretary, Farmers Association, who has opposed the project in the court, says the farmers are enthused by the political parties’ opposition to the project.
All the major political parties have voiced their concern on behalf of the farmers. The association is politically neutral, he said.
However, in the Cauvery delta, farmers represented by the Movement Against Destruction, which opposes the Coal Bed Methane project, are sceptical about political support.