HC orders issue of notice to TN govt over GAIL's petition

The Madras High Court today ordered issue of notice to Tamil Nadu government after Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) filed a petition, challenging the government's April 2 directive not to lay pipelines for the Kochi-Kuttanad-Mangalore-Bangalore gas pipeline project.
The state government decided to urge GAIL to give up the project since it passed through agricultural lands and further asked it to take steps to lay the pipelines alongside National Highways without affecting these lands.
GAIL filed the present petition to quash the April 2 communication of the government.
Additional Solicitor General P Wilson pointed out that the project would certainly benefit Tamil Nadu to face the demand for gas and contended that the project must be allowed in the larger public interest of the state

When the matter came up for hearing today, Justice S Rajeswaran ordered issue of notice to the state government.
The judge said the petitioner was at liberty to approach the vacation court if there was any urgency.

GAIL, in its petition, sought to quash the G.O., which sought to immediately stop laying pipes through agricultural land for the Kochi-Bengaluru Gas Pipeline project.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had addressed the same issue in the Assembly as well.
Replying to a special call attention moved by opposition parties, including DMK and CPI(M), Jayalalithaa had on March 25 informed the Assembly that government has directed GAIL to lay the pipes on roadsides along National Highways to ensure that farmers don't lose their arable lands.

She said affected farmers had aired grievances against GAIL at a three-day meeting with Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan, fearing losing a large part of their land to the Central PSU, affecting their agricultural prospects.