‘Toll-free alert service will help bring down gas pipeline mishaps’

Gas pipeline accidents have come down by half since 2009 in the United States due to strict regulations implemented by the federal government, says noted pipeline safety consultant from Oklahoma Ted Tiger.

Stating that India should emulate ‘just one call for pipeline digging’ service introduced in the United States to prevent pipeline blasts and gas leakages, he told The Hindu on the sidelines of a conference on chemical (industrial) disaster management here recently.

He said the number of accidents fell down drastically in his country after the introduction of just one call before digging a pipeline was introduced in early 1990s.

Terming as unfortunate the burst of pipeline of Gas Authority of India Limited at Nagaram in East Godavari district last year claiming several lives, he said it could have been prevented had India introduced ‘national one-call’ system.

Monitored by the Department of Transportation, the federal government alerts other industries on the pipeline repair or digging work so that in case of emergency, all of them launch a coordinated approach.

Strict protocols have been put in place for transportation of flammable liquid by rail and laying pipelines for gas and petroleum products and chemicals after Mid-Valley pipeline incident, Amoco gas and Oklahoma pipeline fire during replacement of valve caused furore in the United States.

He said taking into consideration public outcry over gas pipeline accidents, the federal government amended gas pipeline safety regulations 110 times and hazardous liquid safety regulations 90 times. Third party damage was the No. 1 cause of pipeline incidents in the US, he stated.