Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim directed all Gram Panchayat Development Officers not to issue licences for constructions within 30 metre radius of KIOCL pipeline corridor.
Chairing a meeting on the KIOCL Kudremukh-Mangaluru pipeline corridor, he said even though the KIOCL pipeline was not mentioned in RTCs, the Panchayat Development Officers should look into the norm under which excavations, construction of buildings had been prohibited in the 30 metre radius of pipeline (15 metre on either side).
The deputy commissioner meanwhile directed additional deputy commissioner to issue general instructions to all Gram Panchayats in this regard.
KIOCL officials said despite marking done by the company, sanctions had been given by gram panchayats to construct buildings and some land owners had also started the work. Such cases exist in Tenkamijaru and Todar in Moodbidri and Kenjar Village in Bajpe.
They said the pipeline, which was used for the supply of iron ore, was being used for supply of water to be used in the KIOCL plant at Panambur, as mining activities are not being carried out by the KIOCL in Kudremukh.
KIOCL is drawing water from Lakya dam through a pipeline as per permission granted to the KIOCL vide State government gazette notification dated January 1, 2007. Also, the right of way is granted to the KIOCL through an interim order by the Supreme Court in 1977.
Incidentally, Mangaluru City Corporation has sought permission from the KIOCL to use the pipeline for supply of water in the city. But, the MCC has to write to the Supreme court, KIOCL officials said.
Seven villages in Mangaluru, 11 villages in Moodbidri and three villages in Karkala come in the way of the pipeline corridor.
Meanwhile, the affected people in the villages and PDOs said that they were not aware of the KIOCL pipeline, till the company filed an objection.
