GAIL's Kochi-Bangalore gas pipeline stays on course

TN govt has objected to GAIL India's pipeline project in the state and has asked the company to stop laying the pipelines immediately

The Madras High Court has issued an interim order restraining the state government and its administrative officials from removing the pipes stacked by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) in various places for laying them as part of its Kochi-Bangalore liquid natural gas pipeline project.

The order was issued by Justice K K Sasidharan, in a petition on behalf of GAIL, in which the Additional Solicitor General of India argued that the state is now directing to remove the pipelines already laid by GAIL.

Based on this, on Tuesday, the court ordered: "Since the government wanted to file a counter in the matter and taking into account the background of facts, there shall be an order of interim injunction, restraining the respondents (the state government and the administrative authorities) from taking coercive/removing the pipes stacked in various places for laying."

However, ensuring status quo on the matter, the order added that this would not give a right to GAIL to lay new pipelines. The government pleader refuted the contention of GAIL. He has sought time to file a counter to the petition.

In March, the Tamil Nadu government has objected to GAIL India's pipeline project in the state and has asked the company to stop laying the pipelines immediately. The government decision blocked the Rs 3,000 crore pipeline project which was supposed to connect Kerala with Karnataka via Tamil Nadu. The government said that it will not allow GAIL to lay pipelines on agricultural land and asked it to lay them on roadsides along the National Highways.

GAIL filed a petition against the state government and the district collectors of seven districts through which the pipeline was expected to be laid, in the Madras High Court.