Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Suresh Gopi
Mangaluru: A memorandum has been submitted to Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Suresh Gopi , seeking permanent employment for 115 project-displaced families (PDFs) who sacrificed their fertile agricultural land for the MSEZ–GMPL project. The memorandum referred to an Oct 31, 2023, letter from Karnataka govt’s additional chief secretary to GAIL, reportedly highlighting the employment obligation towards 115 PDF candidates. Union members also brought to the minister’s attention the GMPL letter dated Dec 6, 2023, and subsequent correspondence from the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas dated Aug 8, 2024.
Highlighting a disparity in employment policies, the union members said eligible land-losing families had been provided permanent employment in central public sector undertakings such as MRPL, OMPL, ISPRL and HPCL, while families who lost land for the GAIL Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd (GMPL) project were still awaiting permanent employment. Representatives of the PDFs Employees’ Union met the minister Friday and raised the employment issue, which has remained unresolved for several years.
They urged the minister to ensure the company respected Karnataka govt’s rehabilitation and rResettlement (R&R) policy and the relevant employment obligations, and took necessary steps to provide permanent employment to all 115 eligible families.
The affected families said that despite the official correspondence, eligible members continued to work under contractual arrangements and their demand for permanent employment remained unfulfilled. Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, BJP district president Sathish Kumpala and others were present.