The Government of India has requested the Andhra Pradesh High Court to vacate the interim stay on the construction of a pipeline by Reliance Industries Limited to transport natural gas from Krishna-Godavari basin to Gujarat. The HC had issued the stay on November 13, 2007, on a petition by certain persons of Medchal village in Ranga Reddy district who complained that RIL was building the pipeline illegally through their lands.
They had requested the court to set aside as illegal and unconstitutional the provisions of the Petroleum and Mineral, Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 and also sough nullification of the notification issued by the government on their lands.
According to the petitioners, the pipeline was solely meant for business and would not benefit the people of the State. However, the Union government said in its affidavit that the allegations and apprehensions of the petitioners were baseless. It pointed out that natural gas produced in K-G basin would be supplied to consumers in various parts of the country including Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat and added that it was a project of immense national importance.The High Court will hear the case again on February 6.
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