The announcement in the Union Budget laying emphasis on the need for gas pipelines is certain to benefit Kerala which is yet to put up the required infrastructure for taking natural gas to various districts of the State. The Finance Minister has spelt out the government’s resolve to have more pipelines across the country.
Despite the LNG terminal commencing operations in Kochi, there are few beneficiaries as the pipeline intended to carry gas has not reached the desired locations.
GAIL India, the company entrusted with the task of laying pipelines in Kerala and onwards to Bangalore and Mangalore through two separate stretches, could not go ahead with the task due to opposition from the local residents at many places.
Fresh hope
The Minister’s statement has given new hope to GAIL India as well as prospective industrial partners who are keen to switch over to natural gas, considered a clean fuel. Though the future of the gas based industry is bright, initial hitches are causing much harm to the profitability of the LNG operations for the multi-crore project.
The fresh initiative outlined in the Minister’s statement could provide impetus to the project managers who had been feeling distressed especially after the tragedy in the pipeline network in Andhra Pradesh which claimed more than 15 lives.
Though the Minister did not promise anything in particular to the State in respect of the pipeline, the very statement is being viewed by industry as a positive step.
The Finance Minister has spelt out the government’s resolve to have more pipelines across the country.
