Land acquisition hurdle in Calcutta CNG pipeline project

Unavailability of land to lay a pipeline is proving the biggest hurdle in bringing the environment-friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) to Calcutta, the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) had told the National Green Tribunal.

Environmentalists have long been saying that use of CNG is critical to reducing air pollution in Calcutta.

A GAIL affidavit filed on July 13 in connection with a petition filed by environment activist Subhas Datta also requested the tribunal to issue “necessary directions… upon the government of West Bengal” to expedite the process of acquiring the land and provide “right of usage (RoU)” of the land to lay the pipeline.