Kochi: The Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) has informed the Kerala High Court that no alternate route for the natural gas pipeline is feasible through Malappuram and Kozhikode and that precautions were taken to ensure that Kochi-Koottanad-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline is safe. The LNG gas pipeline covers a total of 503 km. According to GAIL the pipeline would be laid only on the notified land. No alternative route was possible for Malappuram and Kozhikode district.
GAIL informed that the pipeline project is a big one involving investment to the tune of Rs 3,300 crore through which natural gas will be supplied and distributed to household sector and transport sector by laying a pipeline underground. GAIL informed the court that misapprehensions regarding the safety of the pipeline were false. It assured that precautions were taken to ensure that the gas pipeline is safe.
“The underground pipeline has been laid by using most scientifically advanced technology under the close and strict supervision of satellite. Entire pipeline is supervised by using most advanced scientific technology SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System) with the help of satellite. There will be one such station in Kochi which will be continuously scanning the pipeline,” the affidavit said.
The affidavit also said that the Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) is the ultimate body for regulating safety in oil and gas sector and would be commissioned only after safety audit by a team appointed by the OISD. It is a functional committee constituted by many engineering firms and experts from industries sector. Various safety measures and assessment are considered and followed in the pipeline work and maintained as per the OISD standard.
