Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has pitched for time-bound implementation of the much-delayed GAIL pipeline project in Kerala, saying it was "essential" to ensure "pollution-free" and "sustainable development" in the state.
In a Facebook post, he said it was not proper to curtail development in the name of pollution and usage of environment-friendly fuel like CNG was a solution to this.
The state should be connected to GAIL's natural gas grid to get CNG at a cheaper rate, he said.
"It is not proper to stop development for controlling pollution. The solution to this is to use green and clean fuel in place of those creating pollution. CNG is one such fuel which has been recognised as environment-friendly the world over," the chief minister said.
Detailing the significance of linking the state to GAIL's natural gas grid, Vijayan said, "It is essential to connect Kerala with this national natural gas pipeline grid for sustainable development."
The grid will be connected with LNG Petronet at Kochi.
The 900-km gas pipeline project of GAIL, passing through Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, has been facing a delay due to land acquisition issues in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
In Kerala, of the 550-km stretch, only about 44 km inside Ernakulam city has been completed so far.
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka together account for about 384 km of the project.
Two pipelines, one from Kochi to Mangaluru passing through the coastal districts of Kerala and another connecting Bengaluru and Kochi, are to be laid.
Protests from the residents of the areas through which the pipelines would pass have caused the delay.
The 50 lakh tonnes per annum capacity of the Petronet LNG terminal at Puthuvype in Kochi has not been able to fully utilise its capacity due to the delay in laying of the pipelines.
Petronet sources said things have picked up after the LDF government came to power in the state.
"The GAIL pipeline project has a significant role to ensure pollution-free and sustainable development in the state. So, the state government is promising all support for the completion of the project," Vijayan added.
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