Suspension of PGCL Gas Connections
Company counts loss while applicants in despair
Domestic as well as commercial and industrial gas connections in Pabna, Sirajganj and Bogra districts under Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL) have remained suspended for around a year following an order from the ministry concerned.
On an average, the company has been incurring a loss Tk 1.25 crore per month as gas bill since October last year as all kinds of gas connection has remained suspended, PGCL commercial department sources said.
At least 10,000 applications including those for six CNG filling stations have been pending in several offices of the company, PGCL sources said.
Following a ministry order that cited 'gas crisis' as the reason, PGCL had to stop all kinds of domestic connections in three northern districts on July 19 this year while the company was asked to stop all of commercial and industrial connections on September 24, 2009.
But the company could hardly give domestic connections after September last year due to different problems including crisis of pipes.
Company sources, however, said there is no gas crisis since the company started commercial operation in 2000.
A senior official of the company told this correspondent over cell phone on Friday evening that a letter has been sent to Petrobangla authorities with a request to relax the restriction on industrial gas connection.
PGCL Managing Director Md Ali Hossain said their management is trying to solve the problem.
“I have paid as per demand note for domestic gas connection to my residence about six months ago but it is yet to be given. And so, I have to bear additional amount of Tk 1000 per month as fuel cost,” said Jalal Uddin, resident of Bogra town.
Advocate Zaidur Rahman paid all the official dues for domestic gas connection to his Satmatha residence in Bogra town about eight months ago but he has not got the connection yet. “I have to pay additional amount of Tk 2,000 on an average every month to buy Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cocking,” he said.
PGCL General Manager (Marketing) Md Anisul Haque earlier said that they have enough scope to provide gas connections for domestic and other purposes in Bogra, Sirajganj and Pabna districts but they need government approval for it.
PGCL sources said that there is a scope to provide at least 6,000 domestic connections in Bogra, Sirajganj and Pabna districts right now as required gas pressure is available.
PGCL recorded gas pressure of 60 PSI (pound per square inch) near the entry point of Majhera Cantonment area, and almost the same pressure is available at end point of Thengamara on the outskirts of Bogra town which is more than enough to provide 5000 domestic as well as some commercial and industrial connections, sources said.
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