HPCL pipeline clears Neriya roadblock

HPCL pipeline clears Neriya roadblock

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 1, 2014: After months of uncertainty, the Rs. 750-crore LPG pipeline from Mangalore to Bangalore has crossed its biggest obstacle with acquisition under way for a 7.2-acre pumping station at Neriya in the district.

Instead of purchasing the land from numerous landowners – most of those who had rejected the offers – Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), which is undertaking the acquisitions, said a single private landowner had been identified.

With the landowner consenting, a price fixation committee has been formed to permanently acquire nearly four acres, said officials.

The land is just a “parcel” of a 100-acre farm in Neriya, and officials said there would be “almost no problem” acquiring that. The rest of the land belongs to the government which had acquired it for the MRPL-Petronet petrol pipeline. “The gazette notification for acquisition is the only formality remaining, but apart from that it is all over,” said Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim.

Relief for HPCL

For Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) – which is executing the project the 397-km LPG pipeline project – the acquisitions solve a major hurdle that had stalled the project in the district.

While talks on the acquisition were proceeding slowly here, the company has finished nearly 80 per cent construction works – including Mysore and Hassan districts – in other districts.

“There is momentum for the project and as soon as the gazette notification for the land at Neriya is issued, we will start construction,” said an HPCL official here. The company has said there would “complete agreement” to the price fixed by the district administration.

Ever since the first public meetings on the project started in August 2013, the permanent land acquisition for the pumphouse – that will pump the gas uphill through the Ghats – at Neriya village. Though numerous proposals were presented from reducing the land needed to barely 80 cents, the farmers were apprehensive of compensation. Meanwhile, HPCL officials said pipelines were being laid in Bantwal and Belthangady taluks where most farmers had agreed to the negotiated price for the “temporarily acquired” land. The acquisition comes under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Right of User in Land) Act, 1962.

Officials said once the land is handed over completely in Mangalore taluk, the project can proceed to meet the original deadline of November 2015.

 

Courtesy: The Hindu