Review meeting held on laying of gas pipeline by GAIL

Top officials of the Bihar government and Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) today held a meeting to fasttrack execution of Phulpur to Haldia natural gas pipeline. Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh reviewed the status of the Bihar phase of the Phulpur-Haldia gas pipeline, dubbed as "Urja Ganga of Eastern India". The Bihar government has constituted an apex committee under Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to ensure execution of this project of national importance. Union minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan had on May 25 launched the first phase of project work for Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline here.

The Review meeting was attended by Principal Secretaries of Industries, Water Resources, Revenue and Land Reform, Road Construction, Rural Development, Forest and Environment, Urban Development, and Chairman, Bihar State Pollution Control Board, and Managing Director, Bihar State Industrial Region Development Authority. From GAIL (India) Limited, Ashutosh Karnatak, Director (Projects) and S M Singh, General Manager (Construction), were present along with other senior officials, a GAIL statement said here.

The Chief Secretary advised the concerned departments to resolve pending issues and ensure availability of balance permission within two weeks. It was decided to form a 'Samadhan Committee' headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) in all districts to promptly resolve issues arising during project executions, the statement said. The anticipated investment of the project in Bihar is approximately Rs 2500 crore. 

Major beneficiaries will be IOCL, Barauni, HFCL, Barauni, City Gas Distribution in Patna, Gaya and Barauni. The pipeline is passing through nine districts of Bihar namely Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Patna, Shiekhpura, Lakhisarai and Begusarai.