KOCHI-PALAKKAD LPG PIPELINE: AMENDMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE REFERENCE: F. No. J-11011/396/2012-IA II(I) dated 03.07.2015 & F. No. J- 11011/396/2012-IA II(I) dated 30.09.2015 We, Kochi Salem Pipeline Private Limited, a joint venture of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited, a Government of India Undertaking is laying a 12 “dia LPG pipeline from BPCL Kochi Refinery to Kerala Tamilnadu border including connectivity to IOCL Udayamperoor LPG plant in the state of Kerala (Approximately 199 Kms) as per the Environment Clearance granted as per the reference cited above. It has been necessitated to re-route a portion of the pipeline for a length of 28.87 kms from Pattikkad in Thrissur District to Alathur in Palakkad District in view of the mounting resistance of land owners against fresh ROU acquisition in Thrissur and Palakkad Districts, which is a serious threat for completion of the pipeline. We are therefore proposing diversion of route for this stretch as per the following consideration. The pipeline route has been proposed to follow the ROU of earlier laid Cochin- Coimbatore–Karur pipeline wherever feasible to avoid fresh ROU acquisition to the extent possible to minimize the objections from land owners. In the case of Pattikkad – Alathur stretch, we had earlier proposed the pipeline route involving fresh ROU acquisition for EC, circumventing the Peechi Sanctuary along the buffer zone as NH was planning their highway expansion in Kuthiran portion and the expanded road was fouling with the PCCK pipeline alignment. Highways were even suggesting the removal of the existing Petronet CCK pipeline or construction of highway over the pipeline in this area. In line with the above, we had obtained Environmental Clearance, Forest and Wild life clearance. Subsequent to the receipt of EC, while initiating steps for ROU acquisition there have been very strong public resistance for acquiring fresh ROU for laying the pipeline in Thrissur & Palakkad Districts from the people and local leaders giving a clear impression that the laying of pipeline cannot become a reality if the concerns are not addressed. People have formed action council groups to prevent the laying of the pipeline. We have therefore started looking for alternatives to address the above issue and it has come to our observation that it is feasible to avoid fresh ROU acquisition in this area and route the pipeline along the existing PCCK pipeline route including the forest area without any additional diversion of forest land since NH have decided to construct a new road in this portion by way of tunneling at a distance from the existing road without infringing the PCCK pipeline alignment. The above re-routing provides the following advantages: 1. Fresh diversion of forest area and consequent tree felling is avoided as detailed below. Forest diversion Forest already Additional Reduction in considered in the diverted for diversion forest earlier proposal for laying PCCK required by laying diversion as which approval pipeline KSPPL pipeline per the rerouting is obtained along the forest proposed diverted for PCCK 1.441 Ha 0.758 Ha (0.4754 Ha 0.683 Ha through Peechi Nil Sanctuary) 2. The above route avoids fresh ROU acquisition and thereby addresses the concern of the people in this area. 3. The above route shortens the pipeline length thereby reducing the temporary ecological disturbances. In line with the above decision for rerouting the pipeline, we have submitted applications to Forest, Wild life and NHAI for their clearances for the proposed re- routing. NHAI have accorded their clearance for routing the pipeline along the new alignment. Forest has considered merit in our proposal and has given clearance for laying the pipeline in the forest area already diverted for PCCKL for an extent of 0.2826 Ha. For the balance portion of 0.4754 Ha through Peechi Sanctuary, it has been suggested that the clearance will be accorded once wild life provides their clearance. In the case of Wild life clearance, the proposal after recommendation by Additional Chief secretary, State (Forest, Wild life and Environment, Government of Kerala) is with State Wild life board which is to meet after the General Elections in Kerala. All statutory bodies have observed merit in the proposal from environment point of view. .