Stir against pipeline in Mudipu

The residents of Mudipu and surrounding areas staged a protest against the laying of Gail pipeline between Mangalore and Cochin, that passes through five gram panchayat limits in the region, in Mudipu on Saturday.

The pipeline will be laid in Kairangala, Balepuni, Naringana, Pajeer and Kurnadu Gram panchayats.

Addressing the protesters, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that he will oppose any project that is against the interest of people of the region. “The pipeline will affect the farmers as well as the general public.

The GAIL has completed survey work in two areas and has started survey in Mudipu. I will hold talks with the officials concerned,” he said.

Horata Samithi President Rajaram Bhat said that few officials are trying to get the signature of the villagers for acquiring the land by giving false details.

Rented houses should not be given for the GAIL officials in Mudipu. “A sense of fear has gripped the villagers because the company has said that pipeline will be laid about one and half meters beneath and that they will acquire the land and once the project is over, the land will be handed back to the villagers. This comes with a clause.

The villagers cannot use the land later as per their wish. They can not put up any permanent structure or plant saplings over the land where the pipeline is laid,” he said. JD(S) leader M G Hegde said that the JD(S) will support the cause of the public.

As the pipeline will pass through Mudipu government school and Punyakoti Nagara school premises, a large number of primary and high school children had taken part in the protest rally.

Amidst rainfall, the protesters shouted slogans against GAIL. Zilla Panchayat member Santhosh Kumar Rai, MLA U T Khader, ZP President K T Shailaja Bhat, ZP members Mamatha Gatti, Sathish Kumpala, and others were present.