Tamil Nadu: Stay On Land Acquisition for Indian Oil Gas Pipeline Vacated

The Madras high court has vacated the interim stay granted on the notification issued for land acquisition for Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s (IOCL) gas pipeline project from Ramanathapuram to Tuticorin.

On Friday, a division bench of justice M Sathyanarayanan and justice B Pugalendhi passed the order while allowing the petition filed by IOCL for vacating the stay. Earlier in May, the court granted a stay on the notification after a PIL was filed by K Chellam, a resident of South Veerapandiapuram village in Tuticorin district if this project was allowed, then the agricultural lands and forest areas would be affected.

The petitioner stated that already several acres of agricultural lands had been acquired for government projects. At present, a notification has been issued by the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas for the purpose of acquiring the ‘Right of User’ of agricultural lands. He said the IOCL project, meant for the purpose of delivering natural gas to industries such as SPIC and Sterlite in Tuticorin district is proposed at a cost of Rs 7 billion.

He submitted that as admitted by IOCL, the proposed pipeline would cross several rivers, canals, forest areas and eco-sensitive zone including bird sanctuaries and Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. Hence, the petitioner prayed for a direction seeking to restrain laying of the gas pipelines.