Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 23: The efforts of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) to lay a pipeline from Tokoor village near Suratkal to Padoor in Udupi district drew resistance from the people who will lose their lands for the pipeline. The people who are aggrieved by the company’s proposal to lay pipeline through their houses and fields located in Bala, Tokoor and Katipala villages came together and held a meeting at the community hall in Bala village on Sunday May 22. They demanded for the withdrawal of the land acquisition plans of the company. They also drew up a detailed plan to fight the acquisition efforts, if the company goes ahead to execute its plan.

ISPRL plans to maintain a reserve of petroleum products in a cavern being carved out in rock underground at Padoor village of Udupi district. This reserve, having an approximate capacity of 2.5 million tonnes, is proposed to be used in case of exigencies resulting in non-supply of petroleum products to the country.

A number of participants of the meeting accused the companies which are setting foot in the region, of behaving like autocrats. They felt that some of the houses may collapse if the plans of the company to lay the pipeline are given a go ahead. Some of them were angry, as it appeared that the pipelines will move through the centre of their houses. They wanted the company to modify the plans and lay the pipeline by the side of the existing roads. “The pipeline passes through several blocks in Katipalla, which is a colony of Mangalore port displaced families. This colony was formed to house families displaced by the acquisition of land for New Mangalore Port. Now, these people, who are yet to get all the amenities promised to them, face the risk of having to move out again. The company has thrown to winds the rule that no projects can be executed in colonies set up for displaced families,” the participants said.

It was decided that the people who receive notices of land acquisition from Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, should file objections. A committee was formed to spearhead the opposition from villagers to the project.

A number of social workers including A P Mohan, former president of Bala gram panchayat, Hasanabba, Sandesh Shetty, Keshava Poojary, Danny, Ronny D’Souza, and others were present.