By IANS,
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Thursday said she would take a a decision on the gas pipeline project of GAIL (India) Ltd. in the state after ascertaining the views of the farmers likely to be affected.
In a statement issued here, Jayalalithaa said it was brought to her notice that GAIL India is laying down pipelines in the farm fields in Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri much against the wishes of the farmers, while implementing its 312-km gas pipeline project between Kochi-Salem-Bangalore.
She said she chaired a high-level meeting here attended by several ministers and officials to discuss the pipeline issue, and stressed that no action should be taken against the wishes of the farmers and their views have to be heard first.
Citing the Madras High Court’s order of maintaining status quo on the pipeline project, she said she has ordered holding of public hearings March 8, 9, and 10. Information about the public hearing would be published in the newspapers and farmers concerned will be intimated.
Jayalalithaa requested the farmers to participate in the public hearing and air their views without any fear.
Following that she would preside over a meeting and arrive at a decision that would not impact the farmers, she said.