GB Nagar tightens rules for digging near high-pressure gas pipelines

GREATER NOIDA:The Gautam Budh Nagar administration has directed government agencies, local bodies and other agencies to coordinate with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) before carrying out excavation or construction work along high-pressure natural gas pipelines in the district, after several instances of unauthorised digging were reported

GREATER NOIDA:The Gautam Budh Nagar administration has directed government agencies, local bodies and other agencies to coordinate with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) before carrying out excavation or construction work along high-pressure natural gas pipelines in the district, after several instances of unauthorised digging were reported.

In an order issued on Thursday, district magistrate Medha Roopam directed the Public Works Department (PWD), irrigation department, urban local bodies, electricity and water supply agencies and other organisations to coordinate with GAIL before starting any work within the pipeline’s Right of Use (RoU) corridor.

The administration said unauthorised excavation, piling, boring and laying of roads and utility lines could damage the underground pipeline network which supplies natural gas to industries and other facilities across the NCR and adjoining areas.

“These high-pressure natural gas pipelines are critical energy infrastructure of national importance. All agencies and the public must ensure necessary permission and safety coordination with GAIL before undertaking any excavation or construction work in the RoU area,” the DM said.

The directions followed multiple incidents in which excavation was carried out over the pipelines without prior permission or coordinating with GAIL.

The administration also asked the public and private agencies to obtain necessary permission before carrying out excavation or other construction activity within the RoU area.

Officials said the directions cover road construction, utility work, piling, boring, drainage projects and other infrastructure activities.

The district administration has asked agencies and contractors to establish the required safety coordination with GAIL before starting any such work, they added.