KOCHI: It has the potential to bring Rs 300 crore tax revenue per year to the state exchequer. But the public sector Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is finding it tough to resume its work at the LPG terminal plant at Puthuvypeen owing to protests.
The predicament despite the IOC garnering all required clearances, including the go-ahead from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and the company’s safe track record. The gravity of the matter increases considering the project can save another Rs 300 crore, which now goes to the Tamil Nadu-based LPG tankers. “The entire campaign by the activists are either based on misinformation or with vested interests to delay the project, which will bring only benefits to Kerala and its people,” said C N Rajendrakumar, DGM(LPG), IOC.
“Once the work on the import terminal plant gets completed, the movement of bullet tankers through the roads will come to an end, saving Rs 300 crore per annum for the nation,” he said.
On the allegation of the CRZ norms violation by the plant, Rajendrakumar said the CRZ rules allowed hydrocarbon projects to be established on the coastline. “For instance, the BPCL-Kochi’s crude oil terminal and Petronet LNG terminal are both located on the coastline at Puthuvypeen. In contrast, IOC’s LPG terminal is located 50 metre off the coast at the same area. We don’t know the reason behind the discrimination towards IOC,” he said.
In its order on April 13, the NGT stated “IOC be permitted to carry on with the work and there is no prohibition to carry on as per the conditions of the Environmental Clearance.” “After we won the NGT mandate, the activists have been filing petitions in courts citing flimsy reasons. Their sole objective is to delay the project,” he said.
“There was even an instance when the activists tried to manhandle the officers,” said Eldo Baby, manager, planning and coordination, IOC. The terminal and the import jetty are being established by the oil PSU at a cost of Rs 740 crore. Though the project was expected to be commissioned by February 2018, it has now been postponed to December 2018 due to the delay. “This was the ‘golden time’ to undertake the work as we have good climate. Once monsoon begins, the work will be disrupted,” said the IOC officer.