This refers to ‘Blockages in the gas pipeline’, September 25. Clearly, GAIL has failed to deliver. The speed and efficiency with which 2,350 km Hazira-Bijaipur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) pipeline was executed are missing despite availability of better trained manpower and other resources. GAIL is preoccupied with overseas interests and has also made investments in Egypt, China, Myanmar and Oman and in the process neglected the development in India. Take for example, the Dabhol-Bangalore pipeline. It is among the five new pipelines for which GAIL has already received authorisation in the first quarter of 2007. The other pipelines for which approval was granted are: Dadri-Bawananangal pipeline, Chainsagurgaon-Jhajjhar-Hissar pipeline, Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline and Kochi-Kanjirkkod-Bangalore/ Mangalore pipeline. The progress, however, is tardy. With so many projects at home, GAIL should bite only what it can chew. The fate of many power and fertiliser plants is linked to the speed with which GAIL delivers.
M M Gurbaxani, Bangalore