Bhatinda-Srinagar gas pipeline to complete by mid-2014

With the approval of the 328-km-long Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline project, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday said the project was scheduled to be completed by July 2014 to draw gas from Gujarat to the State.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the progress on the proposed project at a meeting of high-level officers here and emphasised on early start of work, according to an official release.

He received appraisal of the roadmap prepared to start the work on the project and complete it by July 2014 to draw gas from Gujarat to Srinagar and Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah stressed upon the need for fast tracking the project to ensure its timely completion.

He said Jammu and Kashmir being the remotest Northern State of India had many disadvantages.

“Availability of gas in abundance has been a great challenge before us,” he said, adding that supply of gas to the consumers in the State through gas pipeline would be a revolutionary step.

“This will relieve the pressure on availability of domestic gas. It will also help generate employment,” he said.

The gas pipeline will consist of 328-km-long main gas trunk from Bhatinda to Srinagar passing through Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar. There will be hundreds of sub-lines which will supply gas to the consumers at their houses, he said.

Abdullah has already approved the project during a meeting of State officers and the team of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) led by its Chairman Lalit Mansingh at Srinagar.

This was followed by various meetings of PNGRB officers with the Chief Secretary and State’s other senior officers.

The presentations about the pipeline were made by the Board pertaining to the implementation and impact of the project on State’s economy in these meetings.

The Chief Minister has directed PNGRB to start laying pipeline from both Srinagar and Bhatinda simultaneously so that gas is supplied to both the cities of Jammu and Srinagar at the same time.

Omar said this project possessed greater importance to the State in providing adequate domestic and commercial supply of gas to the consumers on cheaper rates besides creating huge employment for youth of the State.

He said the gas company has already been sensitised in this regard. He said the project would also help to utilise gas for generation of power in the State.

The Chief Minister directed the revenue and law departments to finalise the Draft Bill for Right of Use of land for laying of gas pipelines by the gas company in the State legislature for enactment as per the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.

He also asked the officials concerned to ensure proper and up to the mark compensation to the land owners whose land will be used by the company for laying underground gas pipelines.

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