City gas project to be completed soon.

Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson has said that the City Gas Distribution (CGD) project would be completed within three months.

Addressing a meet-the-press recently, Mr. Thomson said that all preliminary works have been completed. The commissioning of the project would have a demonstrative effect and help assuage the apprehensions of people against laying of gas pipelines in districts such as Kozhikode and Kannur, he said.

“A special group would be formed for the coordination of the project,” Mr. Thomson said. He would chair the group. He said that the natural gas pipeline project of Gail India has made great progress and opposition to the project has become subdued.

Ninety per cent of ‘Panchanama’ - whereby compensation for the surveyed area along the pipeline route has been fixed and accepted by the landowners concerned – has been completed and now the wait is for the finalisation of the contractor to lay the pipeline, which is expected by December 15, Mr. Thomson said. While the ‘Panchanama’ for the entire route in Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kasaragod districts has been completed, considerable progress remains to be made in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

THE HINDU