Jagan: Pay Rs. 1 Cr compensation

Kakinada,
June 28, 2014: Squarely blaming the GAIL officials for the ghastly gas pipeline
explosion that killed more than 17 persons and injured another 20 persons, YSR
Congress party has demanded a compensation of Rs.1 Cr to each of the families
of those who lose their lives in the tragedy. 

Speaking
to media persons after visiting the scene of tragedy and consoling the injured
in hospitals at Kakinada and Amalapuram, party president Sri Y.S. Jagan Mohan
Reddy said human error was mainly responsible for the tragedy.  

“The
oil companies, GAIL and ONGC, are vey negligent in such matters. Similar to the
companies abroad, they must be asked to pay Rs. 1 Cr compensation to the victim
families in such circumstances so that the oil companies would shiver to face the
consequences of such tragedies. At least, they would be careful in future,” he
said, adding that Rs. 25 lakh compensation is very meager. 

He
said that Rs. 20 lakh compensation should be paid to each acre of the coconut
orchards that were burnt up in the tragedy. “Besides, Rs. 30 lakh compensation
should be paid to each of the houses that were damaged.  The injured must be paid a monthly pension of
at least Rs. 25, 000,” he demanded.  

Sri
Jagan Mohan Reddy also asked the oil companies to shift their pipelines far off
from villages and replace the old pipelines with the new ones. “Our MPs will
meet the ONGC, GAIL officials besides the Petroleum Minister to ensure proper
compensation is paid to the families of the dead,” he said. He also assured the victim families that YSR Congress party would stand by them in their difficult times. 

Demands
due share to AP in the KG Basin

 Jagan
Mohan Reddy asked CM Chandrababu to put pressure on the Centre to ensure that
AP will get its due share in the gas and oil produced in the KG basin. "Chandrababu should open his eyes at least now and ask the Centre to allot AP its due share in the KG Basin oil and gas."