GAIL ready to pay land price decided by government
The officials at the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) have said that the company is ready to accept the value decided by the government for the land acquired for laying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pipes.
The decision has been announced at various meetings organised by the state government. In fact, it is up to the government to quote a price for the land and not GAIL.
According to the prevailing laws, 10 per cent of the existing fair value has to be paid as compensation to the land owners. In Kerala, the sum has been increased up to 50 per cent.
In reality, the company is not acquiring the land. The company only needs to use the land. The owners can also plant crops such as rice and plantains on the acquired land. Only construction of buildings will be prohibited.
If the state government fixes a higher amount as the value of the land, GAIL would pay that too.
The priority of the company is to complete the LNG pipeline project as quickly as possible and make it a part of the national gas grid and quicken the developmental activities in the state, the company said.