Kozhikode: The agitation against Gail’s survey for LNG pipeline gathers momentum ‘day-by-day’ and people allege that the authorities do not reveal details of compensation for their land.
The state-owned natural gas distribution company is also taking hasty steps to expedite the long-pending project, creating suspicion and fear among residents.
At Kottoor near Koottalida where hundreds of persons gathered to prevent the survey team, many are afraid of the anomalies in the compensation package.
A leader of the action council, Subhash Kottoor, said there were many with less than 10 cents of land who may lose part of it to the project. “Some have homes on the land parts of which would be lost for the project,” he told DC. “It is unscientific to treat all those who lose land alike.”
However the Gail authorities assure that they have ensured all safety measures for the pipeline project. Chief manager (construction) M. Viju said after the AP disaster, the Gail had been cautious on the safety aspects. “We are using the most modern technologies for the Kerala leg of the project considering the high population density,” he told DC.
The ‘Gail Pipeline Victims Forum’ leader Dr D. Surendranath said in Andhra Pradesh a minor leak in the pipeline led to a massive fire and explosion.
At least 18 people were reportedly killed and 40 injured in the Gail gas pipeline explosion in 2014.
“The authorities claim that they have taken all precautions. But whatever precautions they have taken, we have apprehensions as there were many tragedies that took place despite taking all precautions,” he told DC.
“Moreover, the Gail authorities also say that the landowner has full responsibility for anything that happens to the pipeline.”
