Indian Oil Corporation's (IOC) Dadri-Panipat natural gas pipeline project hangs in fire as the locals protesting against it are in no mood to relent, causing it to be delayed.

Under the project plan, the pipeline had to pass through two states, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. While the first 50 km, which was to pass through Haryana, is already in place, the project ran into trouble when it entered Uttar Pradesh

For pipeline projects, the company is only given the right to use it after making a one-time payment of 10 per cent of the cost of land along with compensation for the crops damaged due to the pipeline. But in the IOC project, land prices went up after the district administration fixed the cost because government clearances and other processes took some time. So when the company offered the compensation, locals refused to take it and asked for a higher amount.

Due to this, the chances of the pipeline being completed before the end of 2009 seem bleak.

Also See:

MoEF clearance for IOC's Haldia plant (28-Mar-09)

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