Running out of gas

KOCHI: The city gas project, envisaged to provide piped gas to around 50,000 households in the district, is getting delayed due to a  the tussle between the local bodies and the Indian Oil - Adani Gas Pvt Ltd (IOAGPL) over digging up the roads.

While the IOAGPL claims the Kochi Corporation and the municipalities are not extending full cooperation, the local bodies blame the lackadaisical attitude of the IOAGPL for the delay.
The project aims to supply piped natural gas to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers in Ernakulam district. The IOAGPL is a 50:50 joint venture between the Indian Oil Corporation(IOC) and Adani Group to distribute PNG in Ernakulam district.

The IOAGPL will be laying a pipeline of 3,504 sq km across the district. Senior officers said the company has already provided piped gas connection to around 1,000 houses in Kalamassery. “We have stopped road trenching works due to the rain. Once the rains are over the work will restart. Meanwhile, the works to give household connection and the survey to get consent letter from the house owners are progressing. Kudumbashree workers are involved in the survey. For the piped gas connection, the domestic customers need not make any advance payment.

They can make the payment along with the first bill. Each consumer has to pay around Rs 5,000 for a connection and we have already provided close to 1,000 connections. Pipeline has been laid to a distance of around 200 km,” said IOAGPL asset head Ajay Pillai.

According to the IOAGPL officers the local bodies are putting restrictions on pipeline works making it difficult to expedite the works. For example, Kalamassery municipality has provided sanction to lay pipeline in six wards only. The municipality is adamant that sanction to dig up roads in other wards will be given only after completing works in the allotted wards. “But not all house owners have given consent letters. Many house owners say we will apply later. So, the works cannot be completed in one go. This is an evolving business. There is a need to create awareness about the project among the consumers and the authorities. We cannot conduct plumbing works and fix the meter without receiving the registration form from the consumer,” said Ajay Pillai.

Refuting the allegations, Kalamassery Municipal Chairperson Jessy Peter said the municipal council was very much in favour of the project. “The IOAGPL is delaying the works. As they are not completing the works in the six wards allotted to them, the road recarpeting works are getting delayed. The pathetic condition of the roads has generated public resentment. We have decided that sanction will not be given to start trenching works in other wards until the works in the six wards are completed,” she said.

Mayorspeak

Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain said the corporation had opposed the huge concession given to IOAGPL for pipeline laying as no contractor was ready to take up the recarpeting works at such low rates. “To lay KWA water pipeline we charge Rs 5,000 per km while the government has allowed IOAGPL to lay pipeline at the rate of Rs 3,000 per km. Now that a government order has been issued authorising the IOAGPL to recarpet the roads dug up for laying pipeline, the Corporation council will discuss and decide on giving consent,”  she said.
 
Road work

“The municipality will extend all cooperation for implementing the City Gas project. But the IOAGPL has to ensure the road is restored after laying the pipeline. We won’t allow anyone to destroy roads in the name of projects,” said Thripunithura municipal chairperson Chandrika Devi.

Thrikkakara Municipal chairperson M T Omana said the municipality will cooperate with the implementation of the city gas project. The Kudumbashree workers are conducting the household survey in the municipality to identify the domestic customers, she said.

City Gas Project

50,000
households in the district to get piped gas
3,504 sq km: Length of the gas pipeline

B435 crore: Project cost

B5,000:
approximate cost for domestic connection
1,000 domestic connections provided
7,500 applications received

200 km:
gas pipeline completed
50 per cent cheaper
than LPG