KATHMANDU: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has refused to pay pollution fine of Rs 1 billion for petroleum pipeline project of 68.9 KM linking from Motihari-Raxaul-Amlekhgunj for using land of Parsa National Park.
In course of installing pipeline from Motihari to Amlekhgunj, eight kilometer section of pipeline falls in the Parsa National Park, which proposed the NOC two months ago, to provide Rs 1 per liter as pollution fine.
However, Sushil Bhattarai, Acting Managing Director at NOC, said paying pollution charge is impossible as pipeline does not create pollution. “Pipe will be installed 2.5m below from the ground level. It does not produce sound. It does not pollute anything. It does not affect wild life. So, paying fine is not possible,” Bhattarai said.
Though the NOC will pay compensation of cutting 5,000 trees and damaging infrastructures of the national park, said Bhattarai. “The project itself will construct the park entrance, building of information center, statue of elephant and bridge over historical Kamini pond,” he said.
The NOC has planned to bring 80 million liters of petroleum in the first phase of the project. “We have to pay Rs 1 billion annually by paying Rs 1 per liter. We will face loss if we pay the fine,” he added.
The file of NOC rejecting to pay fine to the national park has been forwarded to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. Ministry Spokesperson Naba Raj Dhakal said that the proposal of the national park cannot be accepted. “It’s difficult to pay compensation. It will be hard hard to accept the proposal. We will study the existing laws and regulations in this respect,” he said.
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply Matrika Yadav and Environment Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet may discuss on it, according to Dhakal.
However, Hari Bhadra Acharya, Chief Conservation Officer at Parsa National Park, said that the compensation of pollution fine was claimed for decline of biodiversity while cutting the trees. “We suggested installing pipeline east from the Simara-Amlekhgunj highway because there would be less damage of trees. But it was not possible because of electricity high-tension line; the pipeline is being installed from the west. The pollution fine will be spent on transferring wildlife and conserving biodiversity,” he said.
The project is yet to carry out EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) even after installation of 13km of pipeline. The project has forwarded the file through NOC to The Ministry of Forest and Environment for approval. One month notice has been already published.
In order to fell down the trees for the project in fast-track way, the NOC proposed the environment ministry earlier through supply ministry. However, the environment ministry suggested carrying out EIA.
According to engineer Sharad Paudel of Simara pipeline project, the pipeline in the different section of Pithlaiya-Simara has been installed 2.5m down. But the pipeline of 8km will be installed in the national park only after EIA. Pipeline will be installed through Amlekhgunj, Pathlaiya, Simara, Jitpur, Rampur, Tokani, Parwanipur, Gandak, Birgunj’ Shankaracharya Gate, South Sirsiya to India.
Rs 400 million have been estimated to install the pipelines. Of it, India will bear Rs 200 million while Nepal will pay Rs 200 million. The project has been planned to complete in 15 months.
