GAIL initiates a slew of relief measures for pipeline victims

BC Tripathi, CMD, GAIL

IN A bid to give some solace to the affected families by the GAIL pipeline blast that claimed 19 lives so far, GAIL (India) Limited handed over Rs. 3.89 crore to the Nagaram district administration in Andhra Pradesh.
GAIL also announced Rs. 20 lakh each next to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to each of the 19 injured. The PSU major...
also suspended two senior officials in charge of the regional operations and maintenance of the pipeline network, GAIL said in a statement.
BC Tripathi, CMD, GAIL deeply mourned the tragic loss of life and property.
GAIL has initiated several relief and rehabilitation measures in addition to the relief measures announced by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum & Natural Gas during his visit to the incident site.
GAIL said it will bear the medical expenses of all the injured persons and best possible medical care will be provided.
In case of those permanently disabled, Rs. 5 lakh for each affected person will be put in a fixed deposit to enable subsistence benefits through Monthly Income Schemes, the statement added.
The loss of property as well as crops is being assessed in consultation with the district authorities and GAIL will be extending compensation for the same.
A series of welfare-measures have also been added as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives including construction of permanent houses for the 35 affected families, setting up a skill development centre for local residents
In addition, the company will also adopt the Nagaram village and endeavour to make it a model village.
GAIL’s Tatipaka-Kondapalli pipeline has been certified for safety by various national and international agencies of repute, the statement further said.
GAIL has constituted an internal inquiry committee headed by Executive Director (Operations & Maintenance). It has also been decided to engage an international consultant of repute to conduct an intensive third-party audit of its pipeline safety systems and other hydrocarbon installations as a precautionary measure.