  A simple consistency argument for hypothesis of the galactic halo origin of
the Ly-alpha forest absorption lines is advanced, based on the recent
determination of column-density vs. impact parameter relation for the
low-redshift gaseous galactic haloes. It is shown that observations of neutral
hydrogen absorption around luminous galaxies are consistent with the index of
the power-law column density distribution derived from statistical analysis of
large samples of high-redshift Ly-alpha forest lines.
