The Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) on Monday said measures have been initiated for shifting entirely the pipeline operations of oil marketing companies (OMCs) in north Chennai.
It also asked the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) to allot the land required by the OMCs in Ennore for shifting their terminals.
Last October, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), southern bench, comprising its judicial member, Justice M. Chockalingam and expert member, Prof. R. Nagendran had directed the Ministry to file an action plan following an application from V.P. Krishnamoorthy of Washermenpet, who had complained of pipeline leaks in north Chennai. Stating that oil leaks from the pipelines operated by OMCs posed a grave threat to the life and livelihood of people in the vicinity, the applicant had sought the shifting of the pipelines.
As per the directions of the NGT, P. Wilson, additional solicitor general (ASG), filed the action plan of the Ministry before the Tribunal on Monday. He said the secretary of the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas had conducted inter-ministerial consultations and chalked out the action plan.
In its action plan, the Ministry had stated, “Measures for shifting pipeline operations from this heavily populated area have been initiated and a complete shifting of pipeline operations from the area can be accomplished in a period of three years after possession of land. After examining the techno-economic viability of various options and subject to availability of land, the OMCs will take an investment decision in the matter, preferably within three months.”
Going into the minutes of the consultations, the Bench expressed its displeasure over the absence of the secretaries of the ministry of environment and forests and ministry of commerce and industries.
Adjourning the matter for further hearing to the first week of January, the Bench directed the Ministry to file a report on remedial measures taken in the affected area on the basis of a IIT-Madras report and to convene another inter-ministerial meeting to address land allotment.
