However, he evaded questions as to how much it would be in terms of amount if calculated. He sought time from the committee till next meeting to provide details as to how these losses would be in real terms. The GM SNGPL Peshawar informed the committee that work on supply of gas to Anar Cheena would be initiated in a few days, as required funds for the project, Rs 490 million, have been released by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. He said that survey will be completed in a few days and supply of gas to Anar Cheena, Mirak Banda and Ketch, district Hangu, will be provided soon.
The committee was informed that a project for supply of gas to Anar Cheena, Kalgarh Banda and Umer Khan Khel was approved and procurement of material was in progress. However, survey for supply of gas to Mirak Banda and Ketch, district Hangu, is still in progress and survey report will be submitted to the committee in the next meeting.
The committee directed that gas should be supplied to the locals residing in the radius of 5 kilometers of the gas discovery. The director general (gas), Ministry of Energy, stated that a decision to his effect was taken in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting that funds for supply of gas within 5 kilometers radius would be provided by the federal government. The Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Committee (IPCC) will prepare a summary and place it before the Cabinet to make the decision of the CCI as policy.
The meeting was also informed that KP government was provided incremental Rs 2.8 billion from the Gas Development Surcharge (GDS) for the project of Anar Cheena. About the illegal connections, the meeting was told that industrial and commercial connections were disconnected by the gas authorities in Karak but they were unable to discontinue domestic connections because this would create resentment in locals and in turn they would create problems for gas companies operating in the area.
The meeting was further told that an amount of Rs 8.70 million was deposited by the Project Director Bannu Development Authority and internal distribution network has been laid on terms of reference (TOR) basis. While briefing the committee on gas transmission line from Mardan to Malakand, the SNGPL official stated that budgeted cost for the project was Rs 2321 million and out of 106 kilometers, 47 kilometers transmission line was commissioned.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017