The anti-GAIL pipeline activists who faced a set back with majority of landholders withdrawing from the agitation following the announcement of the revised compensation package and benefits by Gas Authority of India Limited are planning to resume their agitations by mobilising public support through fresh regional campaigns.
A recent meeting of the Anti-GAIL Pipeline Action Committee decided to launch an indefinite agitation against the pipeline work at Eranhimavu in Mukkom on December 18.
Leaders of the local action committee claim that GAIL is yet to fulfil many of its newly announced decisions. Though the authority argues that the revised compensation packages will offer better benefits to the landowners, it is hardly fetching any big rewards to small landholders in the area, they argue.
The plan of the action committee is to win the support of maximum landholders by hosting regional conventions and exposing the alleged flaws in the newly announced packages. Protesters will also stick to their demand for altering the pipeline alignment in highly populated residential areas.
Not satisfied
A local leader of the action committee says the revised compensation package is not at all satisfactory for majority of the landowners and they accepted it as they are afraid of police action. Many of the landowners in Mukkom and surrounding areas were beaten up by police for participating in the anti-GAIL protests and it has terrified many families, he says.
The organisers say they will ensure the participation of people’s representatives and local body heads in regional meetings so as to avoid any untoward move on the part of the police against the protests. The agitation is not against the gas pipeline project, but, the reluctance to consider a reasonable compensation package, they say.
Demands considered
Meanwhile, officials attached to GAIL say the revised compensation packages and changes in the existing work pattern were announced only after considering the previous demands of the action committees and the suggestions made by the State government.