Natural gas pipeline project in Kerala & Karnataka forging ahead but stranded in Tamil Nadu
The natural gas pipeline installation project by GAIL (government of India undertaking) was started in 2012 but could not proceed in Tamil Nadu due to opposition from politicians, some agricultural groups and so called environmental activists. So, this pipeline project that was to pass through Coimbatore, Salem, Dharmapuri and nearby regions was stranded and subsequently suspended in Tamil Nadu.
Initially, there was some opposition for the pipeline project in Kerala too. However, government of Kerala and government of Karnataka understood the significance , importance and need for the project and tactfully convinced the protestors and facilitated the implementation of the project, that would take the natural gas by pipeline from Kochi – Kuttanad – Bangalore – Mangalore, without passing through Tamil Nadu. Now, the pipeline project from Kochi to Kuttanad will be ready in the month of July,2018. Pipeline from Kochi to Bangalore and from Kuttanad to Mangalore is under fast implementation and will be ready by end 2018 for commissioning.
With the implementation of the pipeline project running to a length of around 438 kilometre, Kerala and Karnataka will be highly benefited , as several thousand crores of rupees of investment using natural gas as feedstock and fuel would happen in Kerala and Karnataka and nearby regions.
Further, in these regions, natural gas will be supplied by pipeline to households for cooking purposes and for commercial units, making LPG cyclinders unnecessary.
However, with the suspension of the natural gas pipeline project in Tamil Nadu, people in Tamil Nadu are now left to simply look at the successful implementation of the project in Kerala and Karnataka.
Should not those who blocked the natural gas pipeline project passing through Coimbatore, Salem , Dharmapuri and nearby regions answerable to the people of Tamil Nadu for strangulating this meaningful project?
N.S.Venkataraman
Nandini Voice For The Deprived
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