Consensus eludes all-party meet on Kerala GAIL pipeline project

While the minister was optimistic of evolving a formula to end the impasse, leaders of the UDF and members of the action committee said they will intensify the agitation.
Industries Minister A C Moideen at the all-party meeting at the collectorate in  Kozhikode on Monday | A Sanesh
Industries Minister A C Moideen at the all-party meeting at the collectorate in Kozhikode on Monday | A Sanesh

KOZHIKODE: The all-party meeting convened by Industries Minister A C Moideen at the district collectorate here to alley the fears of the residents of Mukkam over the GAIL pipeline project failed to reach a consensus, on Monday.While the minister was optimistic of evolving a formula to end the impasse, leaders of the UDF and members of the action committee said they will intensify the agitation. Speaking to reporters after the meet, minister A C Moideen said all the demands raised by the action committee and representatives of various political parties over the project have been met at the meeting and the government will take a favourable decision soon. 

“All the demands, except the protesters’ demand  for a realignment of the pipeline are expected to be solved shortly. “Demands  which include better compensation for land and safety assurance will be met by the government. Steps will be taken after a meeting with Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan,” he said.
The government will set up help desks at the local body level to resolve the concerns of the public in this regard”, the minister said. Acting tough against the demand for a fresh alignment for the project, Moideen said a change in alignment was not possible. 

Lambasting the government, Congress MPs M I Shanavas and M K Raghavan said the protest will continue until the government agrees to prepare a new alignment excluding densely populated areas.  They said the UDF will stand with the protesters as their concerns are genuine.District Collector U V Jose, MPs, MLAs, representatives of various local bodies and leaders of the action committee attended the meeting.

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