Will oppose damage to farming: Jayanthi Natarajan

 

Chennai: Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan on Thursday said her ministry would express opposition to the Kochi-Man­galore gas pipeline project if it causes any da­mage to agricultural la­nds or environment. 

 

“We will surely express our opposition if there is any damage to farmlands or environment,” she said while responding to media queries about the Madras high court green-flagging the GAIL initiative. 

 

Natarajan, however, quickly added that it sho­uld be seen what has been said in the high court judgement and “then we will take action accordingly”. The minister’s statement would be a welcome relief to the farmers protesting against the pr­oject implementation ba­sed on the existing alig­nment as the court had on November 25 qu­ashed a state government order restraining implementation of gas pipeline project passing through agricultural lands in seven districts of Tamil Nadu.

 

The farmers have also urged the state government appeal against the high court order.