Kochi: Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily on Saturday said that the ministry was ready to invoke special powers and provide concessions to make the city gas project a reality. “We’re ready to invoke our own powers and lessen official procedures just to see the gas pipelines from the LNG terminal, Puthuvype, reach every home in the city,” he Moily said.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, the sanctioning authority on gas distribution and pipeline works, has already initiated the process for calling for tenders for the project, which aims at providing piped natural gas to kitchens.
However, he noted that the biggest challenge for the project were the apprehensions of the people on the safety of pipelines carrying the gas. “The gas is safe and a network comprising 15,000 kms of pipes carrying natural gas has already been commissioned in various parts of the country.”
To make people understand that, live demonstrations will be held in cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram and GAIL can extend financial aid,” the minister said. The union minister called upon the chief minister’s personal intervention to win over people opposing it to make the LNG project at Puthuvype feasible.
