Special package for worst-hit people

Kozhikode: While the Anti-GAIL Action Council is confused over the future of their agitation, district collector U.V. Jose on Tuesday visited various stretches of the project in Mukkam municipality and Karassery panchayat, the epicentre of the protests.

Addressing reporters after meeting victims, Mr Jose said a special package would be weaved out for those with less than ten cents of land and to those who lost houses.

“Such cases would be treated separately in which the revenue officials, representatives of GAIL and the victims would collectively discuss and decide on the compensation," he said.

“Instead of the compensation based on the fair value fixed by the government, in such cases the possibility of implementing the rules of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 would be considered to ensure maximum compensation for victims.”

Till then, he assured, the ongoing work will not be carried out in the land of such families. The Gail would also make slight changes in alignment. A help desk would be started at Kakkad village office to assist the landowners.

Meanwhile, a section of action council leaders feels they should wind up the agitation now and ensure maximum support to the victims pressurising the government instead of antagonising.

Action council leader C.P. Cheriya Mohammed told DC that they had visited the homes under threat of demolition along with the district collector. “He is also convinced of the reasons for our protest and also assured justice for such families,” he said. "The action council is yet to take a decision."