The GAIL (India) Ltd has assured people of 23 villages in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts where it plans to go in for exploratory drilling that they would be compensated for land taken from them if gas is struck and adequate pollution control measures put in place.

If oil or gas is found, GAIL would give compensation, take up infrastructure development, create job opportunities and protect the environment. If not, the land would be restored to its original form, Mr Vinay Prasad, Deputy General Manager of GAIL (India) Ltd, and Mr C.S. Singh, Chief Manager, told the villagers at a meeting at Mannargudi on Wednesday.

The officials sought to dispel fears about pollution, saying surface soil would be removed with modern equipment after identifying an underground field of hydrocarbon reserves. The land would be taken for one year and compensation amount fixed to farmers’ satisfaction, they said.

They pointed out that 20 villages in Mannargudi and Thiruthuraipoondi blocks in Tiruvarur district with rich hydrocarbon reserves are not close to Muthupettai mangrove reserve forests or the Udhayamarthandapuram and Point Calimere bird sanctuaries.

GAIL plans to drill three exploratory wells — two in Tiruvarur district and one in Thanjavur.

The Tiruvarur Collector, Mr S. Natarajan, who also took part in the meeting, requested GAIL to lay the oil or gas pipeline one metre below the surface and ensure proper casing.

Mr S. Ranganathan, Secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said they had no objection to drilling for oil or gas, but steps should be taken to ensure agricultural activities and the environment were not affected while laying pipelines.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW