 "J Jayalalithaa")
The upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu is going to be a major challenge for the two national parties, the BJP and Congress, as farmers in the state are unhappy with them over several issues.
The two major issues are GAIL's natural gas pipeline project and the recent suicides by farmers due to pressure from lenders. Interestingly, the farmers' sentiments against the national parties could be to the advantage of the ruling party in the state, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), as they feel that the state government tried its best to stop the GAIL project, paying heed to their complaints.
Read more from our special coverage on "TAMIL NADU ASSEMBLY POLLS"
Farmers went on a protest in railway stations at Coimbatore, Thanjavur and other belts on Tuesday, and raised slogans against the Central government. Leaders spearheading the protest have alleged that in the past 20 days, at least two or three farmers have committed suicide allegedly owing to the growing debt and pressure from the lenders.
While two farmers committed suicide, another was beaten up by the police and his tractor taken away for alleged default in payment. The farmers have also alleged that the Prime Minister's promise of doubling their income will remain just an electoral statement and also warned the BJP will feel the pinch during the upcoming election in the state.
The other major issue which is expected to have an impact in the upcoming assembly elections, especially in seven districts of the state, is GAIL's pipeline project. While the ruling AIADMK and its rival DMK have opposed the move to have the project cut through agricultural land -- the state government has even suggested it run along the side of the National Highway -- GAIL, a public sector company, wants the pipeline to be laid as per the previous layout.
Thousands of farmers in these seven districts are opposing the project, stating that it will impact their livelihood, as it will be difficult to do use the land once the pipeline is laid.
Sudha, who reside in Mannur, Periyampalayam, says that her land has already turned dry as there is no ground water and now, there is the threat of the GAIL pipeline project. Like Sudha and her family, villagers in this belt, on the Tirupur-Erode border, feel that AIADMK should be voted in again, considering it took the initiative to stop the project, though other parties also raised their voices against it.
This is one of the major threats to livelihood, says E Eswaran, a villager from Therrkupalayam. Today, he is not able to use his land for agriculture, because of the lack of water and the Petronet and GAIL pipeline.
"I want to exit from agriculture and start an industry, but I am unable to arrange money as banks are not lending against the land. Nobody wants to buy the land, thanks to the two projects," he says.
The GAIL project may hit the prospects of BJP and Congress, considering the project was initiated by the Congress-led UPA government. Farmers allege that BJP has done nothing to stop the project and address their concerns.
Tamil Nadu's Finance Minister, O Panneerselvam, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not give an appointment to AIADMK Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss various issues, including the pipeline project.
It may be recalled that GAIL (India) Limited had been instructed by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2013 to lay the pipeline alongside the National Highways without affecting the agricultural holdings of Tamil Nadu's farmers. The company says the realignment will push up its costs and has challenged the state government's order in the Madras High Court which quashed the administration's order in November 2013.
The Tamil Nadu government's plea challenging the High Court ruling in the Supreme Court was dismissed two months back. The apex court ordered the state to fix the market value of land as on January 1, 2016 for Right of Use (RoU) compensation purposes. Under this arrangement, the ownership of the land remains with the farmer -- the RoU permits GAIL to lay the gas pipeline.
After laying the pipeline, the land is restored in original condition to the land owner. Compensation is paid to the land owner asper Petroleum & Minerals Pipelines Act and the Supreme Court has ordered that the RoU compensation against land will be 10 per cent of market value as on January 2016, plus a 30 per cent Solatium.
Farmers can continue agricultural activities after the restoration of land and only the construction of a permanent structure and plantation of deep-rooted trees are not allowed in the acquired RoU. As such the interest of the farmers eill not be impacted, GAIL says.
However, farmers fear that any kind of digging of land above the pipeline could be construed by the company as potentially damaging the pipeline, and even if it the damage is due to other reasons, it is the farmer who is likely be blamed and suffer legal action.
Farmers also allege that if the pipeline cuts across a parcel of splitting it into two parts, the owner will not be able to lay a pipeline for water for fear of damaging the GAIL pipeline.
The 925 km Kochi-Kottanad-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline passes through Kerala (505 km),Tamil Nadu (310 km) and Karnataka (60 km). The pipeline has already been laid for 200 km at a cost of Rs 685 crore. The project was originally started in 2012. Of the total project only 50 km has been completed in Ernakulam (Kerala). Apart from Tamil Nadu, farmers have also been protesting in Kerala fearing that they will lose their livelihood. They also want the government to withdraw the Petroleum & Mineral Pipelines Act, 1962 (PMP Act). The Kerala government also supports the farmers in this matter.
