BGL gets only 2,200 connections in Kakinada out of 39,400 LPG consumers in Kakinada and only 120 connections could be given in Vijayawada.
Kakinada: Piped Natural Gas (PNG) has not yet caught the imagination of the people in Kakinada and Vijayawada. People are apprehensive over the loss of subsidy, which is proving to be a great hindrance in marketing PNG by Bhagyanagar Gas Limited (BGL).
BGL has been awarded the contract to supply piped gas in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Kakinada. The company started its operations of PNG in Vijayawada and Kaki-nada in 2012 with a bang. However, it was not able to make much headway. The consumers are also not coming forward to take PNG with a fear of losing their subsidy on LPG. The BGL created the necessary infrastructure for providing piped natural gas for households in the port town. It has been in the market for the past two years, but, not as many takers as expected. It is said that certain apprehensions in the public were responsible for the slow pace of progress made by the company. Many consumers are apprehensive that PNG would be much costlier than LPG, as there is no subsidy on PNG.
“If we take PNG connection, we will lose subsidy on LPG. We cannot afford domestic gas in totality, said N.Varalakshmi,” a private school teacher. But, experience shows that PNG is cheaper than LPG even without subsidy. “For a family of a four, it will cost only Rs.500 for two months. However, the LPG consumer should bear Rs.430 excluding charges per month. The PNG is economical than LPG,” said Dr.A.P.J. Vinu, an eminent psychologist.
People have also expressed concerns over the safety as they fear explosions and other accidents, if they take PNG and felt that PNG was not safer compared to the LPG connections. However, the Kakinada Rate Payers Association president Y.D .Ramarao said that the PNG is safer than LPG, but awareness has to be created among people. “When LPG was introduced, people expr-essed apprehensions over the safety of its use. But, now, they want only the LPG. Consumers can shift to PNG from the LPG.”
Meanwhile, the District Civil Supplies Corpo-ration Officer G.Uma Maheswara Rao said that a special drive will be taken up to increase PNG connections in Kakinada from the first week of June.
( Source : dc )
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