Lok Sabha Question No. 1378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Gas Pipelines by GAIL
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1378 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

Gas Pipelines by GAIL

## †1378. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the problems faced by the Government in getting gas pipelines laid by GAIL in urban and rural areas along with the measures taken by the Government to resolve the said problems; (b) whether the ONGC has not provided NOC to lay the gas pipeline in Shiv Dhara Residency, ONGC point Ankleshwar in District Bharuch of Gujarat even after the request of the peoples'

representative;

- (c) if so, the details and the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the details of the action taken on the letter received from the peoples' representative?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a)  GAIL has informed that they are facing following problems while laying pipelines in Urban and Rural areas on account of Right of Use (RoU) related issues:
- i) Stiff  resistance  from  farmers  to  either  re-route  the  pipeline  or  demand  exorbitant compensation.
- ii) Non  availability  of  Land  Possession  Certificate  (LPC)  or  obsolete  ownership  records delays distribution of compensation.
- iii) Difficulties  in  laying  pipeline  in  urban  areas  because  of  constrained  working  space, restricted  areas,  encroachment issues, existence of utilities, restricted time for working, etc.
- iv) For  re-opening  of  RoU  for  repairs/  replacement/  capacity  augmentation  of  existing Pipelines,  landowners/farmers  demand  land  compensation  afresh  although  the  pipeline work is done in the acquired RoU for which land compensation is already paid.

Government has taken following steps to resolve the problems:

- i) Management and mitigation of problems envisaged in RoU opening/giving front at field level.
2. ii) Interaction with district administration and State Government to dispose-off cases related to RoU compensation, disbursement of compensation to owners.
3. iii) Review meeting at various levels in Government.
4. iv) Project Monitoring Group (PMG) review meetings at State level.
- v) Uploading issues on website on e-Suvidha portal.

(b) to (d)  ONGC has informed that Gujarat Gas Ltd. (GGL) came up with a proposal for laying gas pipeline under the road owned by ONGC from their main pipeline to Shiv Dhara residency at Ankleshwar in Bharuch District  of Gujarat. The proposal is found to be in contravention to Oil Mines Regulation-2017 (Safe distance regulation). Under Regulation 96 (3) of OMR-2017 'safe distance' required is 30 meter. GGL proposed to lay the gas pipeline alongside ONGC road for installation which was not meeting the safe distance regulation as per OMR-2017. Hence, ONGC could  not  provide  NOC  to  GGL  for  laying  of  said  pipeline,  being  contravening  to  Oil  Mines Regulation-2017. (Regulation 96 (3) of OMR-2017)

It has been informed that Ankleshwar Asset, ONGC has been asked to assess the extent of land available with ONGC for allowing M/s. GGL to lay the pipeline at a safe distance as per Oil Mines Regulation-2017.