Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 7: The legal issues, which the Gujarat State Petronet Limited is facing in Haryana, may lead to delay in extension of gas pipeline to Jammu and Kashmir, and the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Petronet will be making detailed presentation about this as well as other important aspects before the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah after August 15.
“While Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have completed all the legal formalities required to facilitate the connectivity with the National Gas Grid by way of laying of gas pipelines, the Haryana has yet not sorted out the major legal issues”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Despite repeated attempts by the Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL) to persuade the Haryana Government to expeditiously settle the legal issues, the latter has not made any headway till date and due to this the extension of gas pipeline to Jammu and Kashmir may get delayed, they said. “It is unfortunate that due to folly of one state, two states are going to be deprived of connectivity with the National Gas Grid for some more time”, sources added.
In response to a question, they said, “the major issue with the Haryana is about land use rights and this state has yet not taken any decision on the same”, adding “the State has also raised certain objections about the route of the gas pipeline but has not clearly conveyed as how the State wants to resolve the issue despite the issue having been discussed at the highest forum”.
“Unless the legal issues are resolved the GSPL cannot begin gas pipeline laying exercise in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir”, they said, adding “the GSPL has actually decided to start gas pipeline laying in all the three States simultaneously after floating one tender for the job”.
Since Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister was keen for early connectivity of the State with the National Gas Grid, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of GSPL Tapan Ray will explain the reasons for delay in extension of gas pipeline to Mr Omar after August 15, 2013. “The GSPL will also seek the intervention of Omar Abdullah in persuading the Haryana Government to resolve the issues so that J&K’s connectivity with the National Gas Grid is ensured at the earliest”, sources added.
Meanwhile, Revenue Department is going to issue notification next week designating Assistant Commissioners Revenue (ACRs) of the eight districts from where the gas pipeline will pass through as Collectors for the purpose of acquisition of land for the project, sources said, adding “besides notification the department will also issue rules, which would be followed by the Collectors while acquiring land and conferring right of use on GSPL”.
The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, which is the Nodal Department for the gas pipeline project, has also approached the Union Petroleum Ministry with the request to take decision about the city guide distribution system in advance so that there would not be any problem in having laterals, sources said.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the gas pipeline will cover eight districts-Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar. Besides main gas trunk from Bhatinda to Srinagar there will be hundreds of sub-lines.
As per the ordinance enacted by the State Government, “it will 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”, adding “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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