Lok Sabha Question No. 95 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: Kochi-Kanyakumari-Thoothukudi Natural Gas Pipeline Project
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 th  January, 2026

## KOCHI-KANYAKUMARI-THOOTHUKUDI NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT

## 95. SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  current  status  of  the  Kochi-Kanyakumari-Thoothukudi  Natural  Gas Pipeline Project;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  received  concerns  from  farmers  and  local  communities regarding the potential impact  of the said project on agricultural lands, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the technical specifications for pipeline laying including the depth of burial, construction  methodology  such  as  open  trench  or  horizontal  directional  drilling  and installation of warning mats above buried pipelines; and
- (d)  whether any specific mitigation strategies have been planned to minimize disruption during construction,  including  measures  for  land  restoration  to  original  condition  post  laying, ensuring  that  agricultural  activities  can  continue  without  hindrance  and  the  timeline  for restoration works, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी

## (ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a) Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the authority to grant authorization to entities to lay, build, operate and expand Natural Gas Pipelines. PNGRB vide Public Notice dated  17.10.2024  had  invited  bids  under  single-stage,  two-bid  system  from  the  interested  and eligible  entities  for  authorization  to  lay,  build,  operate  or  expand    Kochi-KanyakumariThoothukudi Natural Gas Pipeline (KKTPL) under Regulation 5 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas  Regulatory  Board  (Authorizing  Entities  to  Lay,  Build,  Operate  or  Expand  Natural  Gas Pipelines)  Regulations,  2008.    Subsequently,  the  bidding  process  has  been  completed  and  the authorization to the successful bidder is to be done by PNGRB.

(b) Upon authorization by PNGRB and before acquisition of Right of User in land for natural gas pipeline, the concerns of farmers and local communities are heard by the Competent Authority notified under section 2(a) of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962.

(c) Upon authorization of KKTPL by PNGRB, the authorized entity shall be required to comply with  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board  (Technical  Standards  and  Specifications including Safety Standards for Natural Gas Pipelines) Regulations, 2009, which covers pipeline design, materials and equipment, welding, fabrication, installation (including specifications for the  depth  of  burial,  construction  methodology  such  as  open  trench  or  horizontal  directional drilling  and  installation  of  warning  mats  above  buried  pipelines),  testing,  commissioning, operation  and  maintenance  and  corrosion  control  of  natural  gas  pipelines  including  safety requirements.

(d) As per the provisions of PNGRB (Technical Standards and Specifications including Safety Standards  for  Natural  Gas  Pipelines)  Regulations,  2009,  backfilling  shall  be  carried  out immediately to the extent possible after the pipeline has been lowered into the trench. Excavated soil  from  the  trench  shall  be  used  for  backfilling  unless  the  same  is  not  suitable.  The  backfill material shall contain no extraneous material and / or hard lumps of soil, which could damage the  pipe  and  /  or  coating  or  leave  voids  in  the  backfilled  trench.  In  cultivable  land  and  other specifically designated areas, topsoil  excavated  from  the trench and stored separately, shall be restored to normal conditions. Wherever the pipeline is laid through agriculture land, once the pipeline  laying  is  completed,  the  land  is  restored  to  its  original  state  and  can  be  used  for cultivation/agriculture.

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