Despite withdrawal of the restrictions on allowing new gas connections to industries and commercial consumers has been put on the back burner by the gas distribution companies because of the reconstitution of a high-level committee following the departure of its head.
As a result, thousands of potential bulk gas users, who had already set up their establishments through heavy investment, taking loans from banks, have to wait for indefinite period.
Official sources said the government in May this year withdrew the ban on new gas connections especially for household consumers. The ban was imposed back in 2009 considering a severe shortfall in production and supply.
Before the withdrawal, it was stated that gas distribution companies could provide new gas connections to industries and commercial users if only the high-level committee, headed by then PM’s Energy Advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury gave its consent, considering public interest.
Though the household consumers following the energy ministry’s decision, started getting new connections, the industrial and commercial consumers were still faced with great dilemma.
Despite pursuing at different levels of the government, they failed to obtain new gas connections, despite some 248 applications being approved.
It has been alleged that no specific rules were being followed in approving the applications in five phases. Even, no technical data and information sheet were attached with the applications while the committee approved them.
After resignation of Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury from the PM’s advisor’s post, the consumers’ predicament has been increased since the government is yet to fill up the vacancy of the high level committee chief.
