Mangalore : Deputy Commissioner (DC) A.B. Ibrahim would visit Neriya village in Belthangady taluk to check the suitability of the alternative land suggested by the villagers to set up an intermediate pumping station for the Mangalore-Bangalore Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) pipeline being implemented by the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., (HPCL).

Chairing a meeting of residents of Neriya and surrounding villages with officials of the district administration and HPCL in attendance here on Friday, Mr. Ibrahim said he would inspect the 23 acres of land suggested by villagers as an alternative to the notified 7.10 acres of agricultural land in Neriya. He directed officials of HPCL as well as Petronet, which operates the existing diesel/petrol pipeline, to be present on the occasion.

Villagers and farmers raised the issues of safety in the wake of the recent LNG pipeline blast in Andhra Pradesh and also restrictions on undertaking agricultural activities of permanent nature on the pipeline corridor. The Petronet, farmers said, had utterly failed to plug fuel leakage, most of which were due to attempts to steal fuel, and questioned the competence of HPCL in preventing LPG leakage.

One of the chief managers of HPCL, R. Murali, dealing with the project, attempted in vain to explain the benefits of the project in terms of reduced road accidents, savings in terms of fuel, etc. He also tried to allay the fears among villagers about its safety and explained that high-quality carbon-steel pipe would be laid at a minimum depth of 1.2 m on plain lands and up to 2.5 m beneath river/canal beds. LPG flow would be monitored round-the-clock at various control rooms, he said.

Farmers of the village, whose lands were sought to be acquired for the pumping station, said the company was attempting to minimise the expenditure at the cost of fertile lands, and urged the station be set up on a 23-acre land about 500m ahead of the proposed station site. HPCL officials, however, claimed that the site was technically not feasible.

Manoj, a resident of Puduvettu village, said even if Neriya villagers allowed the pumping station, people in his village would not allow the pipeline, as Petronet had failed to plug leakage of diesel/petrol near Shantyaya river. Mr. Murali assured immediate action, by Saturday evening, to plug the leakage.

Superintendent of Police Sharanappa, Additional DC B. Sadashiva Prabhu, special land acquisition officer Ashok, farmer leaders Ravikiran Punacha, Kanagal Murthy and others attended the meeting.