Suspend GAIL work on farms till kuruvai harvest, urges Nagai ryots

Ever since the laying of pipeline of GAIL started in the beginning of February, Nagapattinam farmers who had anticipated the works would hinder their agricultural activities, experienced problems as most of the stretches of pipelines cut through farm lands where the farmers have commenced their preparatory works for kuruvai with the support of the bore wells.

Ryots in Sirkazhi said that they were worried by the heavy machinery used to lay the pipelines, including earthmovers passing through the fields. They fear that the waterlines used for bore well irrigation would be affected by the machines.

“The GAIL pipeline laying works affect the entire irrigation works and it is time the farmers’ priorities are considered, since they cannot re-arrange their fields nor cultivate once the crop season get affected,” K Subramanian, leader of a farmers’ association in Sirkazhi said.

He asked the district administration to initiate steps to hold on the pipe laying works until the cultivation gets over this season.

Sources said that the pipes are reportedly being laid between Pazhayapalayam near Sirkazhi to Maemathur near Tharangambadi for about 29 km which are capable of transporting fuel of 6,00,000 cubic meters from the exploration wells of ONGC in Pazhayapalayam and to a natural gas plant in Maemathur for about 29 km.

The pipes have already been laid through Vembadi, Vettankudi, Edamanal, Thirunagari, and Nangur in Sirkazhi taluk and presently, the laying of pipelines are in progress at the villages of Kalahasthinathapuram, Aakur Madapuram, and Eduthukatti Sathanur.