Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said her government would not allow the Kochi-Bengaluru GAIL gas pipeline project to affect the welfare of farmers.
It may be recalled that local farmers are protesting against GAIL’s decision to lay gas pipeline on agricultural land. The state government asked the company to lay them on roadsides along the National Highways.
Recently, the state government held a three-day consultation with affected farmers. Also, the chief minister asked Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan to hold discussions with those affected.
Jayalalithaa said GAIL should also close down pits dug for the project, restore them to their original shape and give them to farmers and land owners. These issues would also be intimated to the Madras High Court, which is looking into the matter, she said.
Nobody will accept any justification that industrial growth should be attained at the cost of farmers…my government is determined that projects are for people and not the other way around, she said, adding steps would be taken to withdraw cases filed against farmers in this connection.
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