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Kochi-Mangalore gas pipeline: SC orders status quo in Tamil Nadu

  •   Fri, Jan 17 2014 07:33:15 PM

Kochi-Mangalore gas pipeline: SC orders status quo in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI): The Supreme Court today directed Gail India to maintain status quo in its Rs 3,400 crore Kochi- Kuttanad-Bangalore-Mangalore gas pipeline project in Tamil Nadu while strongly pitching for protecting farmers' interests.

The apex court asked the project executors to explore the possibility of carrying out the scheme by using land along the national highway and questioned them only for acquiring farmers land.

"Why do you want to go into farmers house. It is very improper. You are only asking for farmers land," a bench comprising chief justice P Sathasivam and justices Ranjan Gogoi and M Y Eqbal observed.


While issuing notices to Gail India and other stake holders and asking them to respond within four weeks to the objections raised by the Tamil Nadu government and farmers from the state, the bench said, "in the meantime it is directed that status quo be maintained as of today."

The bench, which posted the matter for further hearing on February 17, asked Gail India to inform it about the land required along the national highway for carrying the project.

"You have to tell how much land will be required on both sides of the national highway," the bench said and asked the project-executors to safeguard the interest of farmers.

Tamil Nadu's plea was made by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Additional Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao tried to impress the bench about the national importance of the project.

The Tamil Nadu government and farmers association had moved the apex court challenging the Madras High Court order that quashed the state's notification prohibiting GAIL India from implementing its gas pipeline project passing through argicultural lands in seven districts of the state.

The GAIL India had challenged in the High Court the state government notification asking it to stop placing pipelines in agricultutal lands and implement the project by laying them along national highways.

The project has to pass through seven districts of Tamil Nadu, a distance of 310 kilometre covering 134 villages, 505 km in Kerala and 85 km in Karnataka.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Sat, Jan 18 2014

    This great project might have temporarily stopped by the Supreme Court against public objections.Hope via measures are taken to complete the project at the earliest.Thanq.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence Dsouza, Kalmady

    Sat, Jan 18 2014

    The proposed Gas pipeline can be routed through the side of the NH lane.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Walter lobo, Bajpe/US

    Fri, Jan 17 2014

    Mr. Wilfred Fernandes’ comment is very appropriate, however, his comment that “The authorities should stop following western style of development” is not correct. The problem is authorizes are not following the western style development, instead the authorities have contrived a development scheme taking and giving bribes alleging for the benefit of industrialization, thereby causing harm to the people and to the pristine land.
    I wish to give three examples of contrived development schemes. (1) The purpose of MRPL development is understandingly great, but the development was and is carried out without an environmental impact assessment, thereby totally destroying the pristine land, adversely impacting food source chain. (2) The need for electricity well understood, however, the Nagarjuna Power Plant complex was built and is being operated with total disregard to the environment and people. The fly ash (which contains sulpher) causes acid rain and gets into the food chain, causing cancers. The fly ash contaminated the drinking water sources, as well as rivers, they by killing the fish and shellfish. The Manglaore-Udupi Karavali fish and shellfish was world famous, but now it is harmful to the people because of water contamination. Not to mention the acid rain also has been killing the coconut trees and other green vegetation. (3) It is quite appropriate to develop and license Mangalore International Airport. But look at the concept of access and egress to the airport and the length of the runway at a slope (table top slope). A kindergarten kid would have devised a better access and egress system. Now, they have poured truckloads of dirt into the Marvoor River to build a dam, killing all fish and shellfish and harming the farmers. (4) The proposed highway from Mangalore to Udupi and North, is a total disgrace in the civilized society. People are being killed on the road- eye witness. There is no road safety. It is dangerous to drive, walk, and even to take public transportation. You can see all of these contrived harmful developments through Google satellite Maps and wonder why India, in particular South India, is producing such intelligent work force with highly qualified engineers. None these developments follow western-style developments.
    Let me give some examples to understand the western style developments. Being from US, I can provide examples from US. Currently, US is undergoing tremendous growth in the oil and gas industry. But nowhere, one can see disturbance of pristine land and all developments are carried out following environmental impact assessment and restoration of the environment. MRPL-type oil storage system was built in California, but could see no ground damage. The reason is Permitted Process and Compliance with Environmental. If the authorities were to follow the requirements of the environment, the food chain would remain intact and farmers would not be upset, advancing civilization.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred Fernandes, Vamadapadavu/Dubai

    Fri, Jan 17 2014

    The authorities should stop following western style of development. India is altogether different any many ways. Our land is fertile and farmers are growing 2 to 3 crops per year. Where as European farmers can only able to farm only 6 months in a year.The food security is the biggest challenge now. The development should be inclusive. The increase of cultivation by area also to be considered. The latest trend of development will make us depend on imports for the food grains. The courts only can come to the rescue of a farmer.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse


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