Even while trade and industry have been demanding the reopening of the GAIL pipeline project, citing the energy needs of the region, farmers are united against its unilateral implementation in its present
The 879-km Phase-II pipeline to Mangalore and Bangalore in Karnataka is under implementation and “the actual physical progress of the project is 64.1 per cent” State-owned GAIL India Ltd has completed the first phase of pipeline that will connect the upcoming LNG import facility at Kochi to consumers in Karnataka and Kerala.
The farmers of Salem district have urged the State and Central governments to provide them ‘adequate’ compensation since they fear that farming activities would come to a standstill in their lands once the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) completes the ambitious Kochin – Bangalore natural gas pipeline project. Of the 310 kilometre-long underground pipeline that passes through the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem and Krishnagiri, as many as 70 km of pipeline traverses through 28 villages in Salem district, mainly through Sankagiri and Omalur taluks.
The Supreme Court today issued notices to Reliance Gas Transportation and Infrastructure Ltd, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on the appeals moved by more than 50 land owners of Surat, alleging that the Mukesh Ambani-led company had not paid them adequate compensation for acquisition.
