Blasting of rocks for Kochi - Salem LPG pipeline project causes damage to houses in Namakkal district

NAMAKKAL: Locals on Saturday complained to the Mallasamudhram police in Namakkal district that some their houses were damaged when rocks were blasted to build a control room for the Kochi - Salem gas pipeline project.They said the “unauthorised blasts,” which sent stones flying into neighbouring houses, had startled them. They said the flying debris damaged their houses and posed a safety hazard. Koothanatham panchayat councillor S Chandrashekar said, “We have been living there for more than 50 years without any problems. Now they say that gas control rooms are coming there. They have blasted rocks for that. The scattered stones fell on our house, breaking the tiles, and everyone escaped without any injury.”The Mallasamudhram police said an investigation was on.The project is managed by Kochi Salem Pipeline Private Limited (KSPPL), a joint venture between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.