Review plea filed before apex court on Gail project

New Delhi: Contending that implementation of Gail's gas pipeline project in seven districts of Tamil Nadu will result in miscarriage of justice, an MLA and a farmer belonging to actor Vijaykanth’s DMDK moved the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking review of its order of  February 2.

The petitioners V.S. Chandhirakumar, suspended MLA, and A.R. Elangovan, party treasurer, said they were farmers and were aggrieved by the order permitting GAIL to implement the project.

They said though they were not parties to the dispute before the Supreme Court,  the review is being sought on behalf of over 5,000 farmers in seven districts of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Tirupur, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri in 134 villages who would lose their livelihood if the project is implemented. They sought permission to file this review petition.

Pointing out that the apex court order had resulted in widespread protests from farmers across the state, they said farmers would lose their valuable lands resulting in loss of livelihood. There was no proper hearing of the grievances of farmers by the competent authority before the lands were sought to be acquired. They said there would be a possibility of “miscarriage of justice” if the order is given effect to.”

If Gail India Ltd., instead of laying the underground gas pipeline passing through these seven Districts, changes the route plan and lays Kochi-Kootanad-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline along national and state highways passing through the seven districts, agricultural lands of farmers need not be acquired for the project.