in Neduvasal, Pudukottai district to explore hydrocarbon in the region. As part of Government of India's Discovered small fields policy, a contract given to GEM laboratories private limited in December 2016 to extract hydrocarbon for 10 square kilometers in the village. Opposition from the farmers stopped the project in May 2018. In October 2018, Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan signed agreement with the Vedanta Limited and ONGC to extract hydrocarbon in Nagapattinam and Chidambaram respectively. The farmers in the region opposed the agreement and burnt an effigy of Pradhan. Environmental impact and oppositions From the time the public become aware of this project, it was fervently opposed by the farmers of Kaveri delta region. Organic farming expert G. Nammalvar was spearheading the opposition until his death due to brief illness in the demonstration field. Protesters often cite the possibility of harmful and dangerous effects of the project to agriculture and life in the region. On 15 February 2017, people of Neduvasal started their agitation a day after Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approval to extract the fields. The agitation continued for 22 days, after meeting with the Petroleum minister, the Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan assured that "Central government will not force any project against the wishes of the people." In 12 April, the protests resumed after the information that project would be executed. The protests called off after 174 days following assurance from the district administration. References History of Tamil Nadu (1947–present) Coal in India Natural gas in India Energy in Tamil Nadu Mining in Tamil Nadu Coal infrastructure ONGC oil and gas fields