GAIL Kochi – Mangalore pipeline to be laid in 2 phases

GAIL Kochi – Mangalore pipeline to be laid in 2 phases

Mangalore Today News Network

March 23, 2012: R. P. N. Singh, the minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, informed the Lok Sabha through a written response that the GAIL Kochi to Mangalore pipeline project will be launched in 2 phases.

Further, he said that 40kms of the pipeline will be laid in Kochi during the first phase, and so far 33.5kms of it has already been welded and lowered. The first phase will be commissioned in the financial year 2012 – 13.

The laying of the pipeline from Kochi to Bangalore/Mangalore comes in the second phase and contracts were awarded in Jan 2012. The minister said that it is scheduled to be completed in 2013 – 14.

The minister also stated that the grievances received by the competent authority regarding land acquisition were already heard and disposed of. Owners of land through which the proposed pipeline is to pass have been issued notices, and the competent authority holds hearings at the tehsil level to clear doubts and misconceptions and hear grievances. Land owners’ suggestion to re-route the pipeline were also received and heard, he said.

He also said that compensation to land owners who will lose land for this project is fixed at 10 percent of the market value of the land in that locality. The competent authority determines the market value based on registry copies, consultations, and circle rates in the area. The competent authority will also decide additional compensation for loss of crops, damage to irrigation facilities, and so on.

GAIL will interact with the local authorities, providing required information about the route through which the pipeline will be laid and steps taken to solve local problems, he said.