Petronet seeks speedy nod for LNG pipeline to Karnataka

Petronet LNG, the nation’s biggest importer of liquefied natural gas, has requested Kerala government to speed up the land acquisition process to avoid further delay in the underground pipeline project of GAIL between Kochi-Bangalore-Mangalore.

“The state government has to push a little. I am not saying that land acquisition is not a problem. But 1,000 km has been laid in other states by talking to people,” Petronet LNG MD and CEO A K Balyan told reporters after a meeting with state Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. In view of problems faced for land acquisition, the meeting decided to explore other alternatives to lay pipelines by considering government land and abandoned canals.

Balyan said that the four-year period by which the project had to be completed ended yesterday. People have to be pursued and awareness created that there was no danger in the pipeline passing through their farmlands, he added. Farmers could continue their agriculture activities, he said, adding, that compensation offered for land acquired was much more than what was paid in other states.

Compensation is not a problem and ‘we are still open on that subject’, he added. Land acquisition for the underground pipeline in seven districts through which the line goes has met with protests from local people. Power Minister Aryadan Muhammed said the state government is exploring the possibility of laying pipes in government lands available and abandoned canals in the area.

Only 1 per cent of the Rs 5,000 crore Petronet project has been utilised till now, he said. Land acquisition was the main problem and in districts like Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur, not a cent of land had been acquired so far, he said.

A three-member expert committee has been set up to come out with a report on it, he said. Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, who was also present at the press conference, said the Petronet LNG project was very important for the state and a solution would be found.

Petronet LNG terminal project at Puthuvyapu at Kochi was commissioned in August last. Only the first phase of the project of laying pipelines to Kochi refinery and FACT has been completed, it was pointed out.