Seventy-year-old K Ramasamy is staring at an uncertain future. A farmer from Seerapalayam village, Ramasamy fears losing 15 acres of farm land if the giant pipelines of GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited) ran through his farm.
Like Ramasamy, R Ganeshan from Chettipalayam has been cultivating coconuts traditionally. If the pipeline runs through their farms, they will no longer be able to raise coconuts.
After the Supreme Court quashed the state government's notification restraining GAIL from laying the pipeline through agricultural lands, farmers from Western Tamil Nadu plan to conduct a massive protest against GAIL and announced that they won't allow GAIL officials into their agricultural lands.
"I have 900 coconut trees in my 15 acres. If the GAIL pipeline crosses my agricultural land, more than 400 coconut trees would have to be felled. I reside with my family in a house close to the land. If GAIL officials enter my land, I will slit my throat," said Ramasamy.
GAIL had conducted a survey at Seerapalayam, Thirumalayampalayam, Palathurai and surrounding areas to lay the pipeline. "I cannot monitor the pipeline round the clock. If anyone damages it, GAIL officials will arrest," Ramasamy added.
The pipeline would cross the Kalaivani College of Technology at Palathurai and Ravel Matriculation School at Seerapalayam where more than 3,000 students go to school. On June 27, 2014, a massive fire broke out following a blast at GAIL's 18 inch underground pipeline in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. More than 18 people were killed and more than 40 were injured in the mishap.
"If a similar mishap occurs, several students including my grandchildren would be at risk of being hurt as the pipelines would pass through educational institutions too, said Ganeshan. Owning eight acres of land, he refuses to allow GAIL officials to enter his land.
"I don't mind of the pipelines are laid on the main roads. But if they enter our lands, farmers across the seven western districts would join hands and intensify our protest against GAIL," he said.
When contacted, P Kandasamy, state general secretary for farmers' association (non-political, non-communal and non-religious) said that they would approach the Apex Court to file a review petition against its order. "Over 10,000 acres of agricultural lands will be affected due to GAIL pipelines," said Kandasamy.
District administration officials said that agricultural lands in Madukkarai, Kinathukkadavu and Sulur Taluk limits will be affected due to the project.
"We have collected data on the acres of agricultural land and the number of educational institutions that would be affected in the district. We have sent a detailed report to the government," said a senior officer.
Meanwhile the state government has filed a review petition against the Supreme Court order.
Like Ramasamy, R Ganeshan from Chettipalayam has been cultivating coconuts traditionally. If the pipeline runs through their farms, they will no longer be able to raise coconuts.
After the Supreme Court quashed the state government's notification restraining GAIL from laying the pipeline through agricultural lands, farmers from Western Tamil Nadu plan to conduct a massive protest against GAIL and announced that they won't allow GAIL officials into their agricultural lands.
"I have 900 coconut trees in my 15 acres. If the GAIL pipeline crosses my agricultural land, more than 400 coconut trees would have to be felled. I reside with my family in a house close to the land. If GAIL officials enter my land, I will slit my throat," said Ramasamy.
GAIL had conducted a survey at Seerapalayam, Thirumalayampalayam, Palathurai and surrounding areas to lay the pipeline. "I cannot monitor the pipeline round the clock. If anyone damages it, GAIL officials will arrest," Ramasamy added.
The pipeline would cross the Kalaivani College of Technology at Palathurai and Ravel Matriculation School at Seerapalayam where more than 3,000 students go to school. On June 27, 2014, a massive fire broke out following a blast at GAIL's 18 inch underground pipeline in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. More than 18 people were killed and more than 40 were injured in the mishap.
"If a similar mishap occurs, several students including my grandchildren would be at risk of being hurt as the pipelines would pass through educational institutions too, said Ganeshan. Owning eight acres of land, he refuses to allow GAIL officials to enter his land.
"I don't mind of the pipelines are laid on the main roads. But if they enter our lands, farmers across the seven western districts would join hands and intensify our protest against GAIL," he said.
When contacted, P Kandasamy, state general secretary for farmers' association (non-political, non-communal and non-religious) said that they would approach the Apex Court to file a review petition against its order. "Over 10,000 acres of agricultural lands will be affected due to GAIL pipelines," said Kandasamy.
District administration officials said that agricultural lands in Madukkarai, Kinathukkadavu and Sulur Taluk limits will be affected due to the project.
"We have collected data on the acres of agricultural land and the number of educational institutions that would be affected in the district. We have sent a detailed report to the government," said a senior officer.
Meanwhile the state government has filed a review petition against the Supreme Court order.