The Supreme Court has given approval to GAIL (India) to lay a pipeline for the transportation of Regassified Liquid Natural Gas (RLNG) to a power plant that will supply electricity for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year.

The 505 km pipeline with a maximum diameter of 48 inches will be laid parallel to its existing gas rehabilitation project. It will transport regasified liquefied natural gas from Vijaipur to Dadri, and will also supply gas to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

The SC allowed the company to go ahead with its Rs.3,306 crore project, which required laying of the pipeline through wildlife sanctuary areas in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, on certain conditions imposed by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

GAIL has complied that the original topography of the area will be restored and the safety norms prescribed by the Oil Industry Safety Directorate will be strictly adhered to. CEC has recommended that the company should deposit five per cent of the estimated cost of more than Rs.36 crore (Rs.1.8 crore) in the compensatory afforestation fund for the conservation and protection works in the sanctuaries.