Mangalore : Cochin – Mangalore Gas Pipeline Santrastara Horata Samithi, Mudipu staged a protest against the proposed gas pipeline between Kochi and Mangalore was held in Kairangala, Balepuni, Pajir, and Kurnadu, in front of ZP on August 14, Tuesday.

The members of Samithi stopped the car of District in charge C T Ravi and submitted a memorandum to cancel the proposed gas pipeline.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajaram Bhat, president of the samithi, said that the proposed gas pipleline was to pass through dense forest areas in four places, adding that a number of trees will have to cut down in these areas. Besides Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has not yet clearly told the residents about the route the pipeline would take.  Stating that people are being forced to give up their land for this project, he said that people are worried about any disaster that leakage of gas or damage to the pipeline might lead to in these villages.

Minister C T Ravi said that this pipeline in these roads are not proposed b the state government, but its according to the survey report by the company. No farmers will be cheated; hence the pipeline will only be implemented if they take the residence into confidence. The farmers will be given the compensation in return to their land.

He also assured them that pipeline will not be implemented in the land belonging to the people in force.

But the protestors asked, why they want only agricultural land and kill the farmers, and suggested them to implement in other places like in Kerala model.

Deputy Speaker N Yogesh Bhat, DC N S Channappa Gowda and MLA U. T. Khader, were also present.