The residents gathered in large number amid heavy rains on Saturday under the aegis of Cochin-Mangalore Gas Pipeline Santrastara Horata Kriya Samiti.
Addressing the protesters, Samiti's president Rajaram Bhat said that the gas pipeline was proposed to pass through dense green cover areas in the four places. “We will be losing many trees in these areas.” Moreover, Mr. Bhat said, officials from the Gas Authority of India Ltd that was laying the pipeline were not making clear to the residents about the way the pipeline would pass. “The marking done by GAIL seven months ago differs with what has been done a week ago in Kairangala.” The marking has been done on the private and government lands, he added.
Mr. Bhat said people were being forced to part their land for the project. They were apprehensive over the disaster that leakage or damage to the pipeline would have in their areas.
Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that any project which would harm farmers and common people will be opposed. He assured he will hold talks with concerned officials.
Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat member Santosh Kumar Rai said the gas pipeline would pass through some sensitive areas, including a Navodaya school and a government junior college. “Let the pipeline be laid along the national highway. This will not be safe but also prevent destruction of greenery. We are not ready to part away our land for this project regardless of the compensation we are offered,” Mr. Bhat said.
He said so far only four persons had received notices regarding acquisition of land for the project.
MLA U T Khader, JDS leader M G Hegde, ZP President K T Shailaja Bhat, ZP Members Mamatha Gatty, Sathish Kumpala, JDS leader Muhammad Shafi, APMC Member Umar Pajeer and others were present.
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