Mangalore: Uproar Over Gas Pipeline Project, Officials Walk Out
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Nov 24: A meeting convened at the taluk panchayat office here on Thursday November 24 to discuss land acquisition for a gas pipeline project, taken up by a private company, received severe opposition with the officials who called for the meeting leaving the venue half way through.
The central government which has initiated this project of supplying natural gas from Thirutthani of Tamil Nadu state to various other parts of the nation has planned to lay underground pipeline in Addur, Thenkulippady, Mulur, Maravoor, Kandavar, Adyapady, Malavoor villages. In Karnataka state, this project is assigned to private company Rilogistic Infrastructure Limited.
In this context, villagers were sent notice to attend a meeting to discuss the issue. As many as 500 local farmers took part. When the special tahsildar and officials of Rilogistic told farmers to sign a blank paper, the farmers were furious and heated exchange of words rocked the taluk panchayat hall.
They alleged that already most the agricultural land has been acquired by trick by companies like MSEZ, MRPL and for extending Mangalore airport. They said, "In the notice it was mentioned that the meeting will be held to discuss the issue transparently, but now they are telling us to sign a blank paper to deceive us."
When the officials could not counter the opposition from the farmers, they left the venue. The villagers complained that the private company is planning to forcibly acquire their land and threatening the villagers of charging them under Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline Act, 1962.
Sharath, a villager, told Daijiworld that in the notice sent to them only survey number was mentioned, but actual sketch of the places through which the project passes was not included. "The land was demanded at a much cheaper price than the market value in a bid to deceive the farmers. Some two or three farmers even signed the blank papers, but later it was opposed by many," he said. He also added that farmers were divided into two groups, and each group was given a separate timing for the meeting to avoid ruckus.
"However, today’s occurrence is a clear message that no agricultural land could be acquired for commercial gains," he said.
Another villager, Praveen, told Daijiworld that an objection letter regarding the project had been submitted last month during taluk panchayat meeting. "MRPL and HPCL have already laid their pipelines. Only a few agricultural lands are left now, and we do not want to lose them," he said.
When the media contacted the officials, they declined to comment on the issue.