Beltangady: Meeting on HPCL gas pipeline ends in chaos over DC's remarks
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (EP)
Beltangady, Jan 30: Chaos prevailed at the meeting called by deputy commissioner (DC) A B Ibrahim at the taluk panchayat hall here on Wednesday January 29 to discuss issues related to the proposed HPCL gas pipeline with the people of 12 villages.
The villagers reportedly took offence at the DC's order to Puduvettu gram panchayat president and members not to interfere in the meeting.
When the DC was collecting information and opinions from the people likely to be affected by the project, Puduvettu gram panchayat president and members questioned the DC on behalf of the victims. However, the DC is said to have told the gram panchayat not to intervene in the matter, and warned of dismissing the gram panchayat if they did not heed to his order. The leaders of farmers and victims who grew annoyed at the response of the DC left the meeting shouting slogans. They sat on protest in the premises of the taluk panchayat and expressed their determination not to allow the gas pipeline to pass through their villages and said they want no compensation.
Roopesh Rai, district convener of Raita Sangha said that they suffered after they approved some of the other projects in the district and warned that no attempt of the government to cheat the people would be successful. "Protests will be held all over the district, especially Beltangady taluk and even in Hassan district in this regard," he said.
Puduvettu gram panchayat president Gafoor demanded to know who had given authority to the DC to question democratically elected gram panchayat. He said that the attempt to suppress the rights of citizens in the democratic setup was condemnable. "A letter was received initially to vacate the land identified for gas pipeline but the matter has been discussed, condemned and the decision has been conveyed to the officials concerned. Disciplinary action should be taken against the officials who did not consider the decision of the panchayat," he said.
DC A B Ibrahim, assistant DC Krishnamoorthy, land acquisition officer Ashok, HPCL’s Prafulla, Padmanabha and tahsildar Srinivasa were present.