Protests against the proposed LPG terminal of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Puthuvype are gaining ground even as the government inaction on the controversial project continues. It’s been 450 days since the project was stalled in the face of intense public protest and the government brokering peace between local residents and IOC.
IOC officials lamented that each passing day added a loss of ₹1 crore to the company and the cumulative loss had crossed ₹450 crore. The total outlay of the project is ₹715 crore.
At the same time, the protesting residents, under the aegis of Puthuvype LPG Terminal Virudha Janakeeya Samara Samithi, have planned a march and agitation on May 28. The residents wanted IOC to leave the shores of Puthuvypu, said C.G. Biju, vice president of the Samithi.
They will also raise the demand for cancellation of the leasing of Cochin Port Trust’s land to IOC. The Trust was acting as a real estate agent and wreaking havoc in the life of the coastal population, he alleged.
Meanwhile, IOC officials hope that the State government will come up with a solution this month, which will enable them to take the project forward. IOC decided to put the project on hold after the State government said it was looking into the report of an expert committee appointed by it earlier. Since February 2017, no work has been undertaken at the site though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ruled in favour of IOC in a case. The NGT had ruled in favour of the company on December 22, last year, said S. Dhanapandiyan, General Manager, LPG project.
The State government had earlier assured the company that it would take a decision on the report. IOC officials had met the earlier Chief Secretary in this regard. IOC was waiting for the government decision to go back to the residents and resume the work, he said.
Though the company has sustained huge revenue loss, it has not thought about abandoning the project.
IOC was all in favour of taking the project forward, he added.
Several residents had been injured in a police action earlier when a rally by them was blocked by the police.
Mr. Biju urged the State government to consider the report prepared by its panel and also the report prepared by a group of eminent environmentalists before deciding on the project.
The report of the Legislative Committee, which visited the site, had not been placed before the Assembly. The findings of the panel also needed to be discussed. The government should convene a meeting to discuss the issue, he said.
