Green signal to IndianOil (IOC) and Adani Power to utilise forestland in Wild Ass Sanctuary in Gujarat

 SC: IOC, Adani pipelines can pass through Guj sanctuary

The Supreme Court (SC) has given green signal to IndianOil (IOC) and
Adani Power to utilise huge reserved forestland in the Wild Ass
Sanctuary in Gujarat. The IOC had sought the court's permission to
use 21.006 hectares of marshy forestland for laying underground oil
pipeline. A central-empowered committee appointed by the court then
said the IOC plea could be considered if the oil major complied with
certain conditions.

As IOC agreed to the conditions, a special bench headed by Chief
Justice KG Balakrishnan on Monday allowed laying underground pipeline
in the sanctuary.

The IOC, however, will have to get approval under the Forest
Conservation Act and deposit 5% of the project cost for the portion
falling in the sanctuary. This money would be utilised to construct
and protect works in the sanctuary, the bench said.

The oil company will also pay the net project value (NPV) as per the
rates applicable for the use of the forestland falling within the
sanctuary. Besides, IOC will have to comply with the conditions laid
down by the chief wildlife warden of Gujarat, the State Advisory Board
for Wild Life and the Standing Committee of National Board for
Wildlife.

In another order, the court allowed Adani Power Limited to use 89.7364
hectares of land for construction of the Mundra-Mahendragarh 500 KV
and the Mundra-Dehgam 400 KV double-circuit transmission lines passing
through the sanctuary.

Adani will also comply with all the conditions that are stipulated for
IOC and it will deposit 5 % of the project cost (Rs. l7.6 crore) for
the portion of the transmission lines passing through the sanctuary.

DNA, Mumbai, April 16, 2010