Mangalore, Jan 31: The affected land owners of the proposed 397-km long LPG pipeline of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) again raised their objection against the project and walked out from the review meeting convened by the deputy commissioner organized to discuss about the compensation to be given for the land acquired project.
During the meeting, residents of Mangalore taluk who are affected by the proposed Mangalore-Bangalore LPG pipeline enquired about the safety about the surroundings after laying the pipeline.
Villagers unanimously raised their objection and said that they will not hand over land on right of user conditions to HPCL at any cost.
SR Marilita from Rosa Mystica Convent, Gurupur said that they have already given a objections to the land acquisition proposal for the project in writing. She said that there are schools, religious training centres, orphanage and church located in convent’s land. We have already lost land for the petronet project of MRPL, further water resources will also be damaged it land is acquired.
Ismail M, resident of Maravoor, said that after giving land for the petronet, he has lost the right over his land. Hence he urged the officials to give right to cultivate at least flowers, in their land. The officials are behaving arrogantly after acquiring the land. We have just given land under right of use conditions, but they do not allow drying the clothes also, hence we do not dare to give our land again.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha district president Yadav Shetty said that all the farmers of the districts have joined their hands and have decided not to give land for the LPG pipeline project. He also said that we trust district administration and hence expect the officials to safeguard the interests of farmers.
Ibrahim, a resident of Malali, said that even after raising objections to the LPG pipeline project, the officials have brought earth mover machine to his land without his permission.
HPCL manager – projects GK Yuvaraj said that the LPG pipeline project is designed for 35 – 40 years. Hence safety measures will be done every year and if required the pipeline may be replaced after the design life period.
DC said that he has directed HPCL to increase the compensation to six times in the district. Land owners, who are entitled to get Rs 10,000 compensation as per the Act, will be given Rs 60,000 in Mangalore taluk, he added.
But looking at the objection by the villagers, he said that there is scope for withdrawal of the project at this stage as notification has already been made.
Special Land Acquisition officer Krishna Murthy, HPCL pipeline chief project manager Ramesh Kumar, project manager Yuvaraj and others were present.
