GAIL project restarts in Kerala with police protection

Notwithstanding protests against the GAIL's LNG project at Mukkam here, work to lay pipeline for the project restarted today with police protection, even as the agitators allegedly pelted stones and blocked roads.
"Digging of pits for laying the pipeline has been restarted with police protection. Four kms have been covered," Sub-Inspector of Police at Mukkam, Abilash, said.
He said two police personnel suffered minor injuries in the stone pelting incident and that the road blocks had been removed.
The SI said 30 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the violence.
"The situation is now under control," he said.

Meanwhile, opposition UDF sponsored hartal in three panchayats under Thiruvamabady assembly constituency against yesterday's police lathicharge and bursting of teargas shells against agitators, passed off peacefully.

Police said the situation was peaceful and a strict vigil was on.
Yesterday, violence had broken out when GAIL officials reached the venue to continue land acquisition process for the Liquefied Natural Gas project.
A police vehicle was damaged and a policeman received minor injuries due to stone pelting which prompted the lathicharge and bursting of teargas shells, police had said.
People under the banner of a protest council have been protesting for the past few months against the land acquisition for laying the pipeline and demanded a re-survey.

Under GAIL's Kochi-Koottanad-Bengaluru-Mangaluru LNG project, pipes will be laid for about 80 km in the district.