Kochi: Councillors of the Kalamassery municipality would accompany an expert team of the Indian Oil Adani Gas and conduct inspection at their respective wards to finalise the route for laying pipeline as part of efforts to revive the City Gas Distribution project, which was stalled due to local opposition. This was decided at a special council meet called by Municipal Chairperson Jessy Peter on the issue on Friday. “A meet is convened on December 13 involving officials of the Adani Group and the counsellors to resolve disputes. The pipe-laying work has been stalled in all but four out of the total 28 wards due to objection of the councilors who site local residents’ apprehension,” Jessy Peter said.
A detailed presentation will be made by the company officials on the project and the safety measures taken in the event. After that each councilor along with the municipal Engineer and an expert team of the company will visit the respective wards. The apprehension of local people will be considered and suitably addressed,” the chairperson said. The South Asia’s first City Gas Distribution Project was started implementing in Ernakulam from February this year with the company officials targeting 44,000 domestic connections in the district in three years. However, so far the company succeeded in giving connections to a mere 72 households.
According to company officials, the municipality authorities are not allowing them to cut and dig along roads to lay the pipes. The PWD department too denied permission to cut white topping roads. “Basically the resistance is over digging of road sides near houses to lay pipes. A separate meet will be held with those from Ward 14 who are raising stiff opposition to the project,” said Ajay Pillai, a company official.
