Belthangady : Villagers thwart survey bid for pump house of HPCL gas pipeline project

Belthangady : Villagers thwart survey bid for pump house of HPCL gas pipeline project

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, Nov 14, 2013 : Residents of  Pijakkala in Neriya village thwarted the attempts made by the authorities to conduct a survey  of a land earmarked for the construction of a pump house of the HPCL gas pipeline project on November 13, Wednesday.

The villagers who   said they would not let even an inch of their land for the project sent back the officials led by Puttur Assistant Commissioner HS Krishnamurthi who had arrived  with police force to survey the  7.10 acre land  where the pump house was proposed.

The villagers had earlier intercepted  the officials   and disallowed them from entering their site. The Assistant Commissioner tried to convince the villagers that they had only come  to  conduct a survey and decide on the compensation that is payable. He also made it clear that the land would be acquired with the consent of the villagers. However, the villagers were adamant in their stand leaving the officials with no option but to  return disappointed.

 KIADB officer Gurudev, HPCL Officer Yuvaraj,  Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene District President Ravikiran Punacha, Puduvettu Gram Panchayat President Gafur and several others were present.

Earlier, a meeting held  at the  Belthangady Taluk Office under the leadership of the AC, failed to arrive at any definite conclusion. Though officials have been stating that the project would be implemented with the consent of  the people, arrangements for laying of pipeline were on in full swing. Already around 2500 huge iron pipes have been stocked in a private land close by Ujire-Kalmanja. Huge machineries have also arrived from Maharashtra and Gujarat.