The Tamil Nadu Government has said that the proposed gas pipeline project of GAIL (India) Ltd could spark farmers’ unrest and large scale law and order problem in the State.
The State Government made this point in the Madras High Court in response to a writ petition filed by GAIL challenging the State’s decision not to allow the pipeline to traverse agricultural lands and instead should be laid along national highways.
In its counter affidavit filed today, the State Government said that it had passed the order after considering the grievances of land owners, farmers and GAIL’s comments made in court-ordered public hearings.
An independent farmers association has also impleaded itself in the case.
The association contended that the project affects the livelihood of the farmers and threatens the safety of the dwellings in the vicinity of the project.
GAIL had approached the Court on April 25 challenging the State’s order of April 2 on re-aligning the portion of Kochi-Kootanad-Bangalore-Mangalore gas pipeline.
Over 310 km of the 1,146-km pipeline passes through seven districts in the western part of Tamil Nadu.
balaji.ar@thehindu.co.in