New Delhi: Lack of infrastructure like pipelines and meagre availability of gas are hurdles in supply of natural gas to tea units around Kaziranga which were shut down last year for using coal and wood, the National Green Tribunal was today informed by Assam Gas Company Ltd.
The claim, which was supported by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) as well, was opposed by the Indian Tea Association which said Assam Gas Company Ltd (AGCL) is already supplying natural gas to 20 other units in Golaghat district of Assam where the tea manufacturers are also located.
On hearing the contentions of the two sides, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the association to file within two weeks the names of the 20 units which are purportedly getting gas supply from AGCL.
The bench was hearing the plea of tea units around the Kaziranga National Park which were shut down for using wood and coal for their operation and had moved the tribunal seeking directions for supply of natural gas to them.
The bench remarked that if AGCL is supplying gas to others in the area then it cannot be unfair to the tea units located in the same region.
The NGT will now take up the matter on October 11. Yesterday, the Centre, ONGC and AGCL had been directed by the NGT to clarify whether natural gas can be supplied to tea industries around Kaziranga.
During the day’s proceedings, the association contended that AGCL is supplying gas to 20 other industrial units in the same area where the tea units are located and is also charging gas supply/consumption and infrastructure charges from them.
It also contended that there is enough natural gas available in the area and that it is being wasted.
The AGCL and ONGC refuted the contentions saying natural gas is available in very small pockets and exploring them is not a viable option as production would not last for more than three years.
The oil companies also said that gas which is imported, has to be re-gasified and then supplied through pipelines, which have not been laid in the area.
They said the laying of pipelines would take more than one and a half years. The NGT on September 7, last year, had directed Assam Pollution Control Board and other authorities to ensure that no tea processing units having boilers using fossil fuel like wood, coal and oil, operates within the ‘no development zone’ around the Kaziranga National Park and take immediate steps to stop their operation.
The NGT’s direction had come on the plea of one Rohit Choudhury, who had opposed the operations of stone crushers, brick kilns and tea factories in the no development zone around the national park. The tribunal had also ordered closure and removal of the stone crushing units as well as the brick kilns. (PTI)
