TTV condemns GAIL laying pipeline with police protection, despite farmers’ protest in Cauvery delta

CHENNAI: AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Friday condemned the attempts by GAIL to lay its planned gas pipeline, with police protection, in spite of protests and opposition from farmers in Cauvery Delta districts. “The move should be immediately stopped and farmers’ agricultural interests should be accorded its due importance in the delta districts,” Dhinakaran said in a statement.
Reacting to reports that police protection has been accorded to help GAIL lay its pipeline for 29 km distance in Naangur region in Sirkazhi taluk of Nagapattinam district, Dhinakaran said the prevailing sentiment in the delta districts is to make it a ‘protected agricultural zone’.
“Projects should be for people and people should not be made to suffer for the sake of corporate projects. There is no reason to bring such projects and destroy the lives of people in the delta districts, where agriculture is the lifeline,” Dhinakaran said.
“Knowing this pretty well, Amma (Jayalalithaa) did not allow such projects to come in. However, the present state government, which calls itself as Amma’s government, does not care for the welfare of the people,” Dhinakaran said. “Both the Centre and the state government should immediately put a stop to such projects. If they don’t do that, the people will teach them the right lesson,” he added.