Kerala could save around Rs 8,000 crore a year if LNG was made available
The project of Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to link the Petronet LNG's Kochi terminal with Mangalore and Bengaluru through a pipeline had hit a roadblock due to land owners in some parts of north Kerala refusing to give 'Right To Use'
Kochi: Business captains and trade union leaders on Thursday warned the government against missing the golden opportunity provided by current low LNG price to galvanize the tepid industrial climate in the state.
Addressing the media ahead of the Mega LNG Assembly, scheduled to be held here on November 10, Mission LNG chairman M.P. Sukumaran Nair said that the government should come forward to clear the unfounded fears of the people regarding LNG pipelines.
"We have about 35,000 to 45,000 km long LNG pipeline in India (outside Kerala) and hardly any accidents reported from anywhere. Almost all major cities in the Gulf have underground LNG pipes. The US has about 1.5 lakh km pipeline and nowhere it poses any danger to life and property," he pointed out.
The project of Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to link the Petronet LNG's Kochi terminal with Mangalore and Bengaluru through a pipeline had hit a roadblock due to land owners in some parts of north Kerala refusing to give 'Right To Use' consent letters to the former.
CITU leader K. Chandranpillai, ex-MP, said that no political party had so far raised any objection to the project. "It is the responsibility of the government to help implement the project which will boost Kerala's economy," he said, adding that apart from the cost advantage, LNG was also an environment-friendly fuel and safer than other energy sources. He also demanded that the KSEB should come forward to make use of the cheaper fuel than the costly Naphtha.
Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industries chairman Mathew Kuruvithadam said that the industry in the state could save around Rs 8,000 crore a year if LNG was made available. The City Gas Distribution project for Kochi whereby LNG is to be provided as kitchen fuel, could also be implemented soon, he hoped.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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