Meet our demands first: Villagers to ISPRL

Mangaluru: Angry with officials for not providing proper information on the proposed land acquisition for the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) pipeline, villagers have decided to intensify their fight.

The ISPRL is setting up its crude oil storage at Mangaluru and Udupi. The work at Udupi and Mangaluru is in progress and a crude oil pipeline is being laid between the two units. But people of 17 villages, where the pipeline is scheduled to be laid want their demands to be met first. Their demands are clear- proper information about the pipeline project, four times the land value as compensation, employment in the company and also a proper rehabilitation package for the displaced.

“The authorities issued an award notice without considering our objections. When we demanded four times the market rate as per the new Land acquisition bill, they sent a notice stating that our demand has been considered. But in reality they have hiked the land value only 40 per cent and not four times,” Ravindra Shetty, of Kuttetur village told Deccan Chronicle.

Shetty is one among the many villagers who have received a notice from the company for the pipeline. “Without providing proper information, officials are trying to make people agree to hand over the land. Some have already signed and taken the money. We have requested people not to receive compensation money unless our demands are met,” he said.

“We are not opposing this project as it is for the welfare of our country. But the government should increase compensation. Since ISPRL is a Central government owned company, let the Central government provide us the assured amount,” he demanded.