GAIL has begun the pipeline laying work for its PNG project in HSR Layout. Pic: Akshatha M
Within months of the GAIL Gas Ltd initiating work on its ambitious City Gas Distribution Project in Bengaluru, it has attracted the wrath of residents of HSR Layout. A few days ago one of our readers had written about how HSR Sector 7 residents are caught between GAIL and BBMP. The author had complained against the contractors for doing a shoddy job and not restoring the trenches properly.
Now it is the turn of HSR Sector 2 residents. HSR Layout is the second location in Bengaluru city, after BEL Colony where the GAIL Gas Ltd is laying the pipeline for CGD. Residents’ Welfare Association of Sector 2 has raised some serious concern over the kind of work that the contractors hired by GAIL are doing. They accuse the GAIL of carrying out the work by violating BBMP norms.
What’s the violation?
The violation first began in June, when the GAIL contractors started pipeline work in HSR Layout even before obtaining permission from BBMP. The city corporation issued permission to lay pipeline for the first set of roads stretching up to 9 km only in July. But, the GAIL contractor began the work a month before getting the permission, alleges HSR Sector 2 Residents’ Welfare Association President Brigadier R S Murthy.
This apart, the GAIL continued to violate the rules, by digging trenches in the areas that were not the part of 9 km stretch. BBMP granted permission to lay pipeline in other parts of HSR Layout (measuring 79,940 metres) only on October 15th, 2015. “Perhaps, the GAIL Gas Ltd started the work much in advance assuming that they will get the permission,” Brigadier Murthy informed Citizen Matters.
Trenches have been dug by the roadside for GAIL’s PNG project in HSR Layout. Pic: Akshatha M
Residents of HSR Sector 2 smelt something fishy and approached BBMP in June when the work on pipeline began. They demanded for a meeting with the GAIL officials to know what was happening. “But, instead of talking to us directly, GAIL though being the project implementing authority, arranged for our meeting with its contractors which was not acceptable. They did not want to come into the picture at all. After pressurising them a lot, GAIL Gas Ltd finally arranged for our meeting with S Angamuthu who is a Senior Manager at GAIL. It was only then that they shared their work schedule and project plan with residents,” says the ex-serviceman.
Violations of terms and conditions
Ever since the work began in HSR Layout, the residents say that they have kept an eye on the status of work. “GAIL has violated some of the terms and conditions laid by the BBMP while granting them permission to start the work,” says Chandrashekhar, Secretary of HSR Sector 2 RWA.
According to the residents, GAIL has violated following terms conditions:
- Laying of optical fibre cable (OFC) on newly asphalted roads is strictly prohibited for a period of one year as per the BBMP Commissioner’s circular dated July 29, 2015, reads the BBMP’s permission letter granted to GAIL Gas Ltd, on October 15th, 2015. But, GAIL has dug up newly asphalted roads. For example, in 9th Cross the new roads are dug, claim the residents of HSR Layout. (However, technically speaking, GAIL is not laying OFC, but pipelines.)
- All Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) pits should be restored on the same day itself. Any delay is liable for penalty, says the BBMP in its terms and conditions. This term too has been violated, with several HDD pits not restored for 10-15 days. A HDD pit dug at 24th Main was kept open for over a week and a child was about to fall into the pit, says Chandrashekhar.
- The terms and conditions of BBMP say that the agency should not cause any inconvenience to public while executing the work, which too has been violated.
- The BBMP has instructed GAIL to strictly follow the procedure laid down in road opening and restoration protocol, which too has been violated. The roads dug up are not closed for several months and are half restored. Though GAIL Senior Manager agreed to restore the opened roads within 15 days of starting the work as per the contractual obligation, that promise was not fulfilled, says Brigadier Murthy. The roads have not been restored to original status and bitumen has not been laid.
- The RWA has also criticised the BBMP engineers of not conducting routine inspections on a regular basis.
“We are not against the CGD. A city like Bengaluru needs it, but not at the cost of violating the rules and causing public inconvenience,” says Brigadier Murthy, while calling for strict monitoring and responsible work from GAIL authorities.
No violations, claims GAIL
Following the residents complaints, Citizen Matters tried to elicit response from GAIL Gas Ltd and BBMP. Responding to the complaints, a senior official from GAIL Gas Ltd maintained that the company started the work in HSR Layout only 3-4 months back after obtaining necessary permission from all the departments.
On the complaints of not following the BBMP norms, the official said: “It is a big project and there will be some lacunae. We are doing our best to rectify them. We are ensuring that the trenches are restored to its original form. But, public can not expect the restoration to happen in a day or two. Once the land is dug up, we have to give some time to settle down properly. If the restoration is done without a gap, it will start caving in. If we lay 1 km pipeline in HSR Layout on one day, we cannot restore the road on the following day. Restoration of a few kilometres will be taken up simultaneously,” the officer said.
Bommanahalli Assistant Engineer Janardhan said that BBMP will have to do an inspection of the project site and submit a work completion report along with 3rd party inspection once the project work is completed. “We will not give the Satisfactory Work Done Certificate to GAIL if they fail to restore the property to its original status,” he informed.
However, he maintained that there has not been any major issue so far with the GAIL’s work in HSR Layout. “There was complaint of them digging the newly asphalted road which we stopped,” he said.
What can you do?
HSR Layout residents who are facing inconvenience due to GAIL work or find the contractors not following the norms, can contact GAIL at 080-68888081 or mail: gailgashelpline@gail.co.in
Related Articles
“Once the land is dug up, we have to give some time to settle down properly. If the restoration is done without a gap, it will start caving in.” So says Gail. If so, then why does BBMP say that pits should be covered the same day? Who is fooling whom here?
Ppl r forgetting dat once u get GIAL Connections with meter in your kitchens, u may hav to surrender ur Subsidized GAS Cylinders, The price which u pay for GAS through GIAL Pipeline is not subsidized, So the Kitchen Bills will be less for now and become more like ur normal FUEL Rates. Is it a Clever plan by Central Govt. to give up Subsidized LPG Connections and make the economy better. I don’t know.
I’d like to post an update on the road work related to this pipeline project. After two and a half months and an “un”sustainable (and relentless) level of follow up with GAIL, Mecon and their contractors (Delhi based and the local party contracted for the restoration) a modicum of what they consider “restoration” was completed on a very short stretch – on 10th Main of HSR layout, Sector 7, yesterday. The work is shoddy and band-aid-like suggesting money has been pocketed in the bargain by the local contractor and the other well known traps of public funds. Needless to say the rest of the stretches of road, are partially done or left completely undone.
As I understand it, the local contractor doing the restoration is a ‘well connected’ party and most organizations such as the Delhi contracting house are obligated to work with people like this for anything involving a BBMP interface.
The same violation they have done by digging near SGR Dental, Munnekolala. This road was newly laid and less than six months. After digging they did not fix it. One year back Munnekolala bus stand to ezone, new road was laid after 1 year after bwssb left te dug up roads.
Whichever govt agency wants just dig without doing any repair because there is total disconnect between agency.
I request GAIL to send your official and see the condition of road. Be responsible agency and kindly fix it.
I request one of the journalists to visit Kannuru, Bangalore East. It is a pathetic condition. Opposite Kannuru Church, roads have been dug up to five feet deep, now filled with rain water, area not even properly barricaded, a threat to motorists. Also it is a bus stop area.
The entire stretch has now become a trench. At another place opposite Engle Woods School, where toddlers attend, has become another unsafe stretch.
When contacted GAIL on it call center number, a week ago, sent its site engineer who promised to finish the work the next day itself, its been a week since his visit and nothing has been. It is almost a month since the excavation has been done. The locals dwelling here have become irate with the contractors and are waiting to trash them up for their irresponsibility.
I am a resident of the area, can be contacted on 9611263173