On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the virtual presence of Kerala and Karnataka Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and BS Yediyurappa, inaugurated the Kochi- Mangaluru GAIL pipeline. The PM inaugurated the project virtually, while Kerala and Karnataka Governors Arif Mohammed Khan Vajubhai Vala, and the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan were also present in the event.
Inaugurating the event, the PM said, “This is an important milestone for the people of Kerala and Karnataka. They have jointly overcome the hurdles in realising this venture. The gas line project will be important in the development of both states.”
Modi also said that the environment-friendly and cheap compressed natural gas (CNG) would be helpful to industries as an economy-friendly fuel. “The project can also help take CNG to homes and transport. This project is as helpful to the people as it is to the industries. The usage of such fuels is also good for the environment as it helps cut down on emission,” he added.
Minister Dharmendra said that the success of the project is a classic example of Federalism. He also congratulated Pinarayi Vijayan for successfully completing the project on time. The Kerala CM said that he was happy to see the success of the joint effort. He congratulated the officers and workers for tirelessly sacrificing their effort and time to complete the project despite floods and Covid-19 pandemic.
The Project
The 450-km pipeline extends from Eloor in Ernakulam till Mangaluru. The project is not just for the industries, but also for domestic and vehicular purposes in the seven districts north of Ernakulam. The pipeline takes the gas from the re-gasification terminal in Vyppin to Mangaluru, passing through Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargod. There are over 28 stations including tap-off facilities in Kerala, from where connections can be made to centres distributing the gas for domestic and vehicular purposes. In the initial stages, the pipeline will provide CNG to Fertilisers and Chemical Travancore Limited (FACT), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Kochi, and Mangaluru Chemicals and Fertilisers.
The Controversy
In his speech, the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had expressed his happiness over completing the project, “despite the hurdles in population-dense locations”. During the UDF tenure, the CPM had vehemently protested the pipeline route demanding that the government take the pipes away from the population. The party had drummed up support among residents and the people by striking fear into them. The left members had claimed that the pipelines are a huge risk.
However, after coming to power, the LDF had no choice but resort to the same track that they opposed since establishing the pipelines on water bodies were very expensive, time-consuming and GAIL authorities refused it. Thus returning to the original position, the CPM retracted all support for the protests that were still ongoing. In Kozhikode, protests organised by the Popular Front of India and Solidarity Youth Movement turned violent. The ruling left termed the protestors as “Muslim extremists with a primitive, seventh-century mindset”. This is despite, several of their local leaders still participating in anti-Gail protests around the area.
In his speech, the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had expressed his happiness over completing the project, “despite the hurdles in population-dense locations”. During the UDF tenure, the CPM had vehemently protested the pipeline route demanding that the government take the pipes away from the population. The party had drummed up support among residents and the people by striking fear into them. The left members had claimed that the pipelines are a huge risk.
However, after coming to power, the LDF had no choice but resort to the same track that they opposed since establishing the pipelines on water bodies were very expensive, time-consuming and GAIL authorities refused it. Thus returning to the original position, the CPM retracted all support for the protests that were still ongoing. In Kozhikode, protests organised by the Popular Front of India and Solidarity Youth Movement turned violent. The ruling left termed the protestors as “Muslim extremists with a primitive, seventh-century mindset”. This is despite, several of their local leaders still participating in anti-Gail protests around the area.
