Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivasa Poojary on May 13 directed Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL) to commission the project providing piped natural gas (PNG) to households in Udupi district, in Karnataka, by June.

Chairing a review meeting on PNG for homes and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles at Rajatadri, the district office complex in Manipal, Mr. Poojary expressed displeasure over the abnormal delay in commissioning the PNG scheme in the district, which has been going on for the past one decade

The MP noted that while abut 35,000 households require PNG in urban local bodies’ limits in the district, the agency has completed pipeline only for about 1,500 houses. “Progress of work is highly insufficient,” he said. He instructed ATGL representatives to disseminate information about applying online for PNG connection through banners, pamphlets and social media.

CNG supply inadequate

Mr. Poojary expressed displeasure over the inadequate supply of CNG in the district and said vehicles, particularly autorickshaws and taxis, line up in front of CNG dispensing stations for hours together to get the fuel. He told officials to sanction four more jumbo vehicles and 10 CNG cascades to the district to bring CNG from Mangaluru.

Besides 11 functional CNG stations, he has written to the Union Petroleum Ministry to sanction one station each at Muniyal and Yermal.

Officials of Gail Gas Limited (GGL), which manages the Kochi-Mangaluru CNG pipeline and has a mother station in Mangaluru, informed that the mother station of ATGL at Panambur will be completed by May-end. After approval from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the Mangaluru-Udupi line would be charged, paving the way for supply of piped natural gas to Udupi district.

Deputy Commissioner T. K. Swaroopa told ATGL officials to ensure deployment of adequate number of technicians at CNG stations to resolve complaints. There was a shortage of such personnel, she said.

Deputy Director Food and Civil Supplies Department Ravindra was among those who attended the meeting.