FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces revival of gas pipeline in Jammu and Kashmir

The union finance minister made the announcement during her budget speech in the parliament today.

The FM said a gas pipeline project will be taken up in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha lauded the Central Government for announcing the project.

“I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and Union Home Minister Amit Shahji for announcing a new gas pipeline project for the development of Jammu and Kashmir in Budget 2021. I congratulate Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanji for an inclusive and growth-oriented historic budget for Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Sinha tweeted.

It is pertinent to note here that the Bhatinda-Srinagar gas pipeline, an estimated Rs 5,000 crore project, was announced ten years back, but due to paucity of funds and lack of administrative push, it saw no progress in a decade.

Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) authorized 725 km long Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar Natural Gas Pipeline (BJSPL) to GSPL India Gasnet Limited (GIGL) which is developing the authorized pipeline project.

PNGRB has informed that about 102 km long pipeline section from Jalandhar-Amritsar in Punjab as a part of BJSPL has been commissioned.

The PNGRB on 7 July 2011 had authorized GSPL, a subsidiary of the Gujarat Government to lay BhatindaJammu-Srinagar gas pipeline to ensure gas supply for industrial, commercial and domestic use in Jammu and Kashmir.

Subsequently, the PNGRB transferred the authorization in favour of GSPL India Gasnet Limited, a consortium comprising GSPL, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.

The gas pipeline was to be laid through the districts of Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag and Srinagar and the scheduled completion date for the project was 6 July 2014. In order to facilitate acquisition of land for the project, the then J&K Governor had even issued an Ordinance in June 2013.

Though the land acquisition process was started in Kathua and Samba districts, it has not reached the logical conclusion. However now it is believed that with centre’s push the project will be completed soon.