As in Kerala, landowners in Karnataka too have opposed land acquisition for the pipeline out of fear of losing their dwellings, agricultural lands and plantations. Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha has convened a meeting of the affected landowners and GAIL (India) officials here on August 31 to resolve the issue.
GAIL (India) General Manager, Kochi, Tony Mathew, told The Hindu that the company would need 20-m-wide land along the 35-km stretch during the project execution stage for movement of equipment; however, it would require only 10-m-wide right of way (RoW) after the pipeline is buried in the ground.
The company would pay compensation for loss of crop during the execution stage and compensation as per the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User Inland Act), 1962. The market value of the lands has to be determined by the Deputy Commissioner and GAIL (India) would go by it, he said.
In Kerala, GAIL (India) is paying 75% of the fair (guidance) value for permanent RoW and ₹12,000 per coconut tree. Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner has proposed to pay 10% of the market value, which is calculated at six times of the guidance value. However, landowners are claiming payment of 100% of guidance value, Mr. Mathew said.
