Udupi: “Around 24 villagers will suffer as the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) finishes the Second phase of Crude Oil Pipeline System from Thokur to Padur”, said Kalathuru Jana Jagruthi Samithi president K Ashok Rao.
The Samithi has demanded the government provide a detailed report to the farmers about the project and the acquisition of land for the project. They have also urged a re-survey of the project scientifically and provide maximum job opportunities to the locals compared to migrant labor.
Speaking to the media, Rao said that the Crude Oil Pipeline System will cause a major loss for the agriculture land. “Though the farmers agreed for the initial stage of the project, the company kept on extending its plans without informing the farmers or villagers”, he said
According to the villagers, the company has been lying to them about the developments in the project.
According to the protestors, in Udupi around 7 villages and 12, 89847 acres of land is proposed for the project and most of it is cultivation land.
They also said that the new notifications show inclusion of Karkala taluk however RTC shows Kalathuru land details; this confusion is created fury villagers, as the company is trying to mislead them, they alleged.
Secretary Lawrence Fernandez said that District-in-charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and Deputy Commissioners have nothing to say in this regard.
However as per the reports at present, there is a need for three pipelines. One output pipeline is proposed from Padur to Thokur while the two other inputs pipelines extend from Mulur to Padur and a high tension pipeline from Nandikur to Padur.
Once the pipeline passes through a farmland it cannot be used for cultivation for 10 more years. He also said safety valve would be put under the pipeline, which may lead for fire mishaps. The high -tension wiring will also cause danger to the village.
He said that though we have our own land we are not allowed to stay in peace. We want government to stand for us if not, they warned that a protest will be organized with regards to the same.
