THANJAVUR (TN): Continuing their opposition to the ONGC's oil exploration project in their village near here, residents resorted to a novel protest by setting up a community kitchen and used firewood for the same.
Around 200 residents of Kathiramangalam village had yesterday set up a community kitchen and used firewood instead of LPG in a bid to rebuff ONGC's statement that it had to drill wells to supply LPG to households, police said.
Women gathered in the open yard of an Ayyanaar temple in the village and prepared food from the morning using firewood.
The protesters said they could manage with firewood as they had been doing so before the advent of LPG.
The villagers have been up in arms against crude oil exploration by ONGC and a protest by them had turned violent on June 30, leading to use of "minimum force" by police, which was criticised by opposition parties in the state.
Also, shops remained shut for several days in the village to express solidarity with the protesting residents.