CPI(M) demands alternate route for laying gas pipeline

COIMBATORE: In view of today's GAIL gas pipeline blast in Nagaram village in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, the proposed laying of pipeline from Kochi to Dharmapuri District via Coimbatore should be stopped or find an alternate route, former CPI(M) MP P R Natarajan today said.

The tragedy should be an eye opener to the GAIL, which, despite protests from farming community, was continuing laying of pipeline through their lands, he said in a statement here.

The farmers of five districts in Tamil Nadu were opposing the project for the last three years, fearing such blasts and a case was pending in Madras High Court, he said.

"The fear of hundreds of farmers has come true and proved that the pipeline should be laid through alternate route to avoid unnecessary mishaps", he said.