KOCHI: The Advocate Commissioner appointed by the High Court to examine the allegations regarding the laying of GAIL pipeline informed the court the compensation fixed for the local residents who surrender their land for the project was not adequate. The commissioner submitted a safety standard check-up by technical experts is a must for ensuring the safety of the public.The commissioner, who travelled around 300 km inspecting areas from Perumbilavu in Thrissur to Mukkam, where the protest is raging, also stated there had been deviations from the original alignment for laying the pipeline in many places.
The commissioner filed the report after the court issued a directive to verify and ascertain the classification and category of the area proposed for laying pipeline. It had also directed the commissioner to inspect and report on the nature and quality of the pipeline now being laid and whether the pipelines conformed to OISD (Oil Industry Safety Directorate) standards.
The commissioner said the compensation fixed for the local residents was insufficient, especially for those with very small land holdings. It will be too nominal for them to purchase another dwelling place, the report stated. Suggesting the authorities should consider alternative proposals for laying pipeline, the report said: “The original alignment has been deviated in many places without any substantial reason, causing more inconvenience to the public. In one place there was already a report of the village officer pointing out an alternative route,” the report stated.
According to the commissioner, the whole area being a coastal belt, laying pipes through seashore should also be considered, if possible, as it would cause much less hardships to the people residing in thickly-inhabited areas. As the major portion of alignment passes through residential areas, prime importance should be given to safety. The safety aspects can be assessed only by technical experts. It is a matter of concern the outer surface of the pipes kept aside for laying has corroded. Besides, the location of vale stations can also cause security concerns. Hence, safety standard check-up by technical experts was a must.
The residents at Perumpilavu Junction expressed their deep concern over the safety measures adopted by the authorities. They had informed the commissioner though the authorities were bound to ensure high standards, no such measures have been taken. While examining the pipes kept aside for laying, it was found the outer surface of many among them had corroded and some of the pipes had mud inside.
On enquiry, the authorities replied those pipes will be coated with polythene before being laid.
The commissioner also visited the residential areas through which the pipeline is passing. As per OISD standards, a distance of 15 m has to be maintained from a dwelling place, but this was not followed in many places. The commissioner said in the Thuneri area in Vadakara, though the first alignment was through a paddy field and less-dense areas, it was seen changed subsequently. The present alignment passes through residential areas which can cause damage to many residential buildings, mosques and schools.