Clearance to Kochi-Bangalore gas pipeline denied

KOCHI: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has denied clearance to the Kochi-Koottanad-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline project. It was to be implemented by the Kerala Gail Gas Limited, which is a joint venture company of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation and Gail Gas Limited, a subsidiary of the Gas Authority of India Limited.Sanction for the project was denied due to an unresolved court case about the ownership of land in the Koottanad Forest Division through which the pipeline passes.It will take a deviation to Bangalore and Mangalore from Koottanad. The total length of the pipeline is 1,168 km and the cost of the project is estimated at Rs 3,263 crore. In Kerala, the pipeline will pass through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts. The project aims to provide natural gas for industrial purposes. The pipeline, which will pass through the Kanjikode forest area, requires five acres of forest land.