GURGAON: The year-old plans to supply piped natural gas (PNG) to Udyog Vihar's industries are now in a limbo, thanks to the bureaucratic hurdles faced by the supplier in acquiring a permit. It has now been over one year since Haryana City Gas Distribution Limited, the prime supplier of PNG in the city, first sought permission from the industrial authority, HSIIDC, to set up PNG lines in all the phases of Udyog Vihar. But the official sanction is yet to arrive.
Hamvir Singh, HSIIDC, Gurgaon DGM, said that the matter of giving out the permit was beyond his jurisdiction. "Only the head offices in Panchkula and Chandigarh can give out the permits. The application is with them. I can't say how long the whole process will take," he said.
According to Haryana City Gas representatives, PNG plans for the area have been put on hold indefinitely. "We have not been able to lay pipelines in Udyog Vihar lanes completely due to the delay in getting HSIIDC's permission," said Sandeep Sharma, vice-president, Haryana City Gas. The supply firm has laid down about 70km of pipeline throughout the city, stopping just at the borderlines of Udyog Vihar. "This is where HSIIDC's area begins, and the network of pipelines stops, because to extend further we need HSIIDC's permission," added Sharma.
The original plans of Haryana City Gas were to get the main line till Udyog Vihar Phase 4 and Phase 1 - projects which are already completed - and further lay down the branch lines inside the industrial areas. "We haven't got any response from the HSIIDC as yet. We have no clue as to when the permit will be granted," he said.
Conventional modes of power have either proved too inefficient or too expensive for Udyog Vihar's industrialists. Rising tariff rates in Gurgaon have only been paralleled by a rising power deficit, and diesel based backup systems have driven the costs further up. This is why industry representatives have shown interest in PNG which remains the only viable alternative for the area's power requirements, being efficient and cost-effective in equal measure.
"There are certain advantages of shifting to PNG. With natural gas, inventory management costs are nil, handling hassles don't exist, and it is pollution-free," said a Haryana City Gas representatives.
Certain industries on the peripheries of Phase 1, Udyog Vihar, where the pipelines have just about reached, have already subscribed to PNG supply, and are utilizing the fuel for production as well as backup needs. But small scale units within the main industrial areas have to wait longer, at least as long as it takes HSIIDC to clear the proposal.
"Industries need electricity at least for 16 hrs a day. But we get supply hardly for 5-6 hrs a day," said B B Sharma, an industrialist. He said that diesel generators cost at least Rs 10 a unit today, and peak hour electricity rates have gone up to Rs 8 a unit. "PNG gas would surely be cheaper".
Hamvir Singh, HSIIDC, Gurgaon DGM, said that the matter of giving out the permit was beyond his jurisdiction. "Only the head offices in Panchkula and Chandigarh can give out the permits. The application is with them. I can't say how long the whole process will take," he said.
According to Haryana City Gas representatives, PNG plans for the area have been put on hold indefinitely. "We have not been able to lay pipelines in Udyog Vihar lanes completely due to the delay in getting HSIIDC's permission," said Sandeep Sharma, vice-president, Haryana City Gas. The supply firm has laid down about 70km of pipeline throughout the city, stopping just at the borderlines of Udyog Vihar. "This is where HSIIDC's area begins, and the network of pipelines stops, because to extend further we need HSIIDC's permission," added Sharma.
The original plans of Haryana City Gas were to get the main line till Udyog Vihar Phase 4 and Phase 1 - projects which are already completed - and further lay down the branch lines inside the industrial areas. "We haven't got any response from the HSIIDC as yet. We have no clue as to when the permit will be granted," he said.
Conventional modes of power have either proved too inefficient or too expensive for Udyog Vihar's industrialists. Rising tariff rates in Gurgaon have only been paralleled by a rising power deficit, and diesel based backup systems have driven the costs further up. This is why industry representatives have shown interest in PNG which remains the only viable alternative for the area's power requirements, being efficient and cost-effective in equal measure.
"There are certain advantages of shifting to PNG. With natural gas, inventory management costs are nil, handling hassles don't exist, and it is pollution-free," said a Haryana City Gas representatives.
Certain industries on the peripheries of Phase 1, Udyog Vihar, where the pipelines have just about reached, have already subscribed to PNG supply, and are utilizing the fuel for production as well as backup needs. But small scale units within the main industrial areas have to wait longer, at least as long as it takes HSIIDC to clear the proposal.
"Industries need electricity at least for 16 hrs a day. But we get supply hardly for 5-6 hrs a day," said B B Sharma, an industrialist. He said that diesel generators cost at least Rs 10 a unit today, and peak hour electricity rates have gone up to Rs 8 a unit. "PNG gas would surely be cheaper".
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