Kochi: The state government is in the process of reworking the compensation package for the land owners who will part with the right to use to GAIL Ltd for the gas pipeline project and there is no basis for apprehensions on this count, a GAIL official has said. “The government is reviewing the existing package to offer the landowners a better deal,” Tony Mathew, GAIL chief manager and coordinator for the project, said.
“The state government has the power to decide on a package that is beneficial for the landowners and it will be binding on GAIL,” he said. The company has already expressed its willingness to accept the decision of the government, he said. As per the Petroleum and Mineral Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, landowners can get 10 per cent of the market value.
As per the existing government order, GAIL will pay 10 per cent of five times the fair value of the land. “That the government is reviewing this package means the landowners would get a deal better than this,” Mr Mathew said. Certain vested interests are trying to confuse the people saying the Act prevented the government from offering a better deal, he said. “Most courts including the Supreme Court have taken a stand that the landowners should get a fair deal,” he pointed out.
“The government understands the importance of the project and hence the people need not harbour doubts about it,” he said. GAIL will take adequate precaution for owners of land below 10 cents. “Law mandates that we do not demolish houses,” he said, adding that the landowners will get the right to build houses on the land in the future. “They will get the necessary documents,” he said.
