Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 11: The much talked about Bathinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline project will remain a dream for at least one more year mainly due to lack of follow-up exercise from the concerned authorities of Jammu and Kashmir and failure of the project-executing agency to obtain mandatory clearance from the Wildlife Department of the State.
This prestigious project was sanctioned after much persuasion from the J&K and was awarded to M/s Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) in June 2011 for completion in three years. But, it will not see the light of day for at least one more year as no major headway could be made till date despite lapse of several years, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
They disclosed that proceedings for acquisition of land for laying of gas pipeline have been initiated and completed up to large extent only in two districts-Kathua and Samba while as in rest of the districts like Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar the same have yet not began.
“This is mainly due to failure of the GSPL’s authorities to vigorously pursue the issue with the concerned Revenue Department authorities and lack of interest from the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, which being nodal department was required to follow the project keeping in view its importance for the State”, sources said while disclosing that in five districts even joint inspection of route has not been conducted till date.
It is pertinent to mention here that the prime objective of the project is to connect Jammu and Kashmir with the National Gas Grid through the pipeline and ultimately link individual households with round the clock supply lines.
Though in Kathua and Samba districts land acquisition proceedings in respect of 51 and 36 villages have almost reached the final stage yet the same cannot be put to use for laying of gas pipeline as GSPL has yet not applied for vital clearance from the Wildlife Department, sources informed.
The proposed pipeline falls within 10-kilometer radius of Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary in Kathua district, Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary in Samba district and Ramnagar Sanctuary in Udhampur district as such it is mandatory to obtain permission from the Wildlife Department as per the laid down procedure and laws on the subject.
Forest Department has indicated that at least four-five months time frame would be required for issuance of clearance to the GSPL for laying of gas pipeline that too after formal submission of project details and request letter. Similarly, the Revenue authorities in Kathua and Samba districts have intimated that they require at least 45 days to acquire the land from the people after payment of compensation, sources said.
“In view of all these aspects and the fact that land acquisition proceedings in other districts have not been started till date the work on the project cannot be started at least for one year”, they said while disclosing that GSPL has also been facing some land acquisition issues in neighboring States of Punjab and Haryana and unless these issues are resolved it may not like to start work in Jammu and Kashmir.
Due to all these issues, the dream of facilitating connectivity of J&K with the National Gas Grid could not be achieved till date despite the fact that the project was to be completed within three years from 2011. Besides this objective, the project also carries immense employment opportunities for the youth of J&K as the rough estimates indicate that 35,000 to 40,000 unemployed persons would get employment on the completion of this project.
Taking serious note of slow pace of land acquisition and failure of the GSPL to obtain clearance from the Wildlife Department, the CAPD Minister, Zulfkar Ali today reprimanded the concerned authorities with the direction that all out efforts should be made on war footing to ensure completion of all necessary formalities within shortest possible time.
Mr Zulfkar, who reviewed the progress of the project, has directed the Secretary of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Baseer Khan to convene meeting of all the concerned authorities to resolve the issue expeditiously.
He maintained that synergy between the executing agencies and line departments is vital for smooth implementation of the project and asked the concerned agencies to work in close coordination so that there are no further delays for want of requisite clearances from the concerned departments.
Besides main gas trunk from Bhatinda to Srinagar there will be hundreds of sub-lines for distribution of gas in the city areas. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Underground Public Utilities (Right to User in Land) Act which was enacted last year in order to facilitate utilization of land for laying of gas pipeline, it would be the prime responsibility of the M/s Gujarat State Petronet Ltd to maintain the pipelines for gas so that there is no threat to safety and security of human life. In case of any failure to perform its duty, the company will be solely and exclusively liable to pay damages for such loss or damage.
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