HYDERABAD, April 14: A landlord of Matiari taluka, Mohammad Hashim Detho, has accused the Orient Petroleum Corporation of not paying adequate compensation for his land.

Speaking at a news conference in the press club here on Wednesday, he alleged that without his permission the company had started boring on his land and installed pipes for the exploration of oil eight months back.

He said he had raised objection against the company but agreed to cooperate with it on certain conditions at the instance of some local respectable people. He alleged that the company officials had gone back on their promises and added that the compensation given to him was only one fourth of the annual produce of his crops.

He demanded that his share should be fixed for the oil that might be recovered from his land, only local people should be given employment in the excavation and exploration till the completion of the project, the company should be directed to extend facilities to the people as was done by other companies in other areas.

He demanded that the company should sign a written agreement with him. He warned that if his genuine demands were not accepted he reserved the right to sue the company.

Supporting the demands of Mr Detho, social workers of Matiari, Pannah Shah, Mehmood Detho and Bachal Memon, who were present in the press conference, warned that if the genuine demands were not accepted, they would launch a protest movement against the company.

Replying to a question, Mr Detho said the company had taken over the possession of two and a half acres of his land but paid him only Rs35,000 while the annual crop produce of this land was valued at Rs100,000.