The much anticipated Kochi-Konjirkod-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline will soon become a reality and in all probability Mangalore will be able to get LNG gas through this pipeline by March-April 2013, if everything goes as per GAIL plans.
Gas Authority of India Limited had received the authorization for laying the Kochi-Kanjirkkod-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline from ministry of petroleum and natural gas in 2007 and only now the company has started the process of acquiring land for this purpose. The pipeline will cover some areas of Dakshina Kannada district also for which land acquisition process has just begun and GAIL has already begun its work of acquiring the land and laying the pipeline.
The 3,700 crore project involving 1,114 kilometer long pipeline from Aluva to Kanjikode, Kanjikode to Palakkad, Kanjikode to Mangalore and from Palakkad to Bangalore is being implemented in two stages. The first phase of Kochi-Kanjirkod-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline which will transport Re gasified Liqueified Nagural Gas from Kochi LNG terminal is expected to be completed by 2012 and the second phase will be completed by 2013.
Phase I will be completed within 24 months and Phase II is expected to be completed within 36 months. Phase I envisages a 96 km long pipeline from Kochi to Aluyva that includes spur and feeder lines. The design capacity of the pipeline is 16 MMSCMD including 4 MMSCMD as common carrier and pipeline design pressure is 92kg/cm2.
The main pipeline will have feeder lines and the gas supply from these feeder lines is expected to benefit a sizeable number of industrial units and business establishments. The infrastructure will be connected to the new facility being set up by Petronet LNG Limited and from here the natural gas distribution network will begin.
Phase II involves 1018 km long pipeline from Aluva to Kanjikode from where it will be extended to Mangalore as well as Palakkad with feeder lines to Thrissur. The 1114 km long pipeline will pass through the three states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. In Mangalore the pipeline will cover at 13 villages to include areas of Thokur, Kenjaru, Malavuru, Adyapadi, Kandavaru, Adduru, Malluru, Meramajalu, Kairangala, Arkula, Balepuni, Pavoor, and Ammunje.
According to reliable sources, officials of GAIL visited the Grama Panchayats of these villages to on initiate the process of acquiring land for the purpose. It is said that the onus of acquiring the land is given to KIDB.
The land acquisition for the purpose of passing the gas pipeline is completely different from the process of land acquisition to SEZ and other developmental projects. The land is acquired only for passing through the pipeline to a width of 20 meters and only 10% of the land value is given as compensation for the land thus acquired for passing the gas pipeline with a width of 20 meters.
(Sourced from DAIJIWORLD)
