H Raja flays DMK's double standards

Chennai: BJP national secretary H. Raja tore into the DMK for its "double standards" on the Nuetrino project in the State and said the then UPA government had given the environment clearance in 2010.

Accusing the DMK working president M. K. Stalin of “double standards” on the issue, he said “Stalin goes around saying the present government at the Centre is responsible, and he has launched Vaiko's padayatra to cover up the mistakes of his DMK government,” he said. Resorting to twitter, Mr. Raja said permission for the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) was sought in January 2010 and the then UPA government's Environment and Forests Ministry had given its nod in October 2010 itself for the project at Bodi West Hills in Theni districts of the State.

While blaming the Centre and State governments on the issue, Mr. Stalin launching the padayatra in Madurai had said, “the consequences of the project such as excessive radiation are not taken into consideration. There are also chances for occurrence of earthquakes due to this project. The Centre is planning to implement several other hazardous projects in Tamil Nadu and is attempting to turn the State into a burial ground.”

Mr. Vaiko announcing that the ‘Movement Against Neutrino’ was formed under his leadership, had said the location where Neutrino project was to be located formed part of the Western Ghats. “If the project begins, lakhs of litres of water would be drawn from Mullaiperiyar dam and there will be no drinking water for the neighbouring districts,” he claimed.