Gas pipeline

Four years ago, the Ministry of Petroleum announced with great fanfare that gas pipeline would be laid from Bhatinda in Punjab to Jammu and then to Srinagar. People in the State hailed it as an announcement of considerable significance and importance to them. The hilly state usually faces much disruption in regular supply of gas particularly during winter months when most of the areas of the State are under snow and severe cold. Four years have gone by and all that has been achieved is survey of just 400 kilometers of the pipeline route out of total length of 730 kilometers. If the work on the survey takes this much of time, then another four years would be required for the survey of the entire route and then at least three to four years more for laying the gas pipeline. By this calculus, the gas pipeline to Kashmir will not become functional before another eight or nine year. We cannot understand the working of the Ministry of Petroleum and its subsidiary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), which, in July 2011, allotted the J&K Gas project to GSPL, a subsidiary of the Gujarat Government to lay Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline to ensure gas supply for industrial, commercial and domestic use in Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, PNGRB transferred the authorization in favour of GSPL India Gasnet Limited— a consortium comprising GSPL, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. Disappointed with slow and lethargic handling of the project, the PDP President and MP, Mehbooba Mufti raised the question in the Parliament and demanded the Petroleum Minister to reflect on the status of the project.
The Petroleum Minister has come out with his version of the story. He has mentioned acquisition of the right of use as the major delaying factor of this project. However, we are not convinced with what he has been projecting as the reason for long delay in survey of the route and the follow up action. As far as the question of acquisition of the right to use the land is concerned, it is a matter in which State Revenue Department has involvement. Rules are prescribed for acquiring land for use and the Revenue Department is empowered to acquire the rights in accordance with the rules. How long it takes the GIGL or any other agency to obtain the right. The Petroleum Ministry has to understand that this is a project of national importance with far reaching consequences. The right of use has yet not been given to the GIGL mainly on the ground that it has not fixed any timeframe for start of work of laying pipeline. Passing the buck is not the way big undertakings like the PNGRB should work. Not to speak of other things, the surprising thing is that the permission accorded by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to the GIGL in July 2011 lapsed last year and the Board has yet not taken any decision on the application moved by the project executing agency for extension of the same without which work on ground cannot be carried out. This is the reason why we say that we are not convinced with the reply of the Petroleum Minister given in the Parliament. Functioning of the GIGL has come under radar in other states also. It has failed to make any progress in adjoining States of Punjab and Haryana.
We make a strong appeal to the Union Minister of Petroleum to take up the issue for immediate action. Mufti Government has made it sufficiently clear that it will take up the abandoned of half-way left projects for completion. The Petroleum Ministry has to honour the commitment of the State Chief Minister.

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