Expressing concern over the exploration of hydrocarbons onshore and offshore by oil majors affecting farmers as well as marine life, noted social activist and National Alliance for Peoples’ Movements founder convenor, Ms Medha Patkar, vowed to take up the issue to the notice of the Centre and called for a national movement to fight against exploitation of natural resources.
The social activist visited several villages including Guddivani Chintha, Deva-guptam, D. Ravulapalem, Challapalli, N. Kothapalli, Raghavulapeta and Golla-villi in Allavaram and Uppalaguptam mandals on Tuesday.
She inspected how crops were damaged due to the seepage of sea water into the fields. She also noticed how saline water was flowing in the drains and asked farmers the reasons.
Addressing farmers at a meeting at Gollavilli, the social activist alleged that several oil majors were looting the natural resources available in the Krishna-Godavari basin and found fault with them for depriving local people of the benefits of the presence of natural resources in their region.
Alleging that oil majors were plundering the state exchequer, she was critical of the Centre for supporting such firms.
She asked why the Centre was unable to provide relief to affected farmers when it was providing a series of concessions worth several thousands of crores of rupees to oil majors.
She said that offshore projects meant to explore hydrocarbons were also affecting marine life, causing their depletion. She called upon all political parties to come on to a common platform to fight against the Centre.
Later, speaking at Bhimavaram, the social activist said that she would take up a national movement from January 26 and assured of efforts to organise a meet on the Indira Sagar Polavaram issue in New Delhi in February.