State’s Urban Development and Housing Minister Madan Kaushik has expressed dissatisfaction at the pace of work on the City Gas Distribution (CGD)network being undertaken by GAIL (India) Limited in Haridwar. During a meeting with the GAIL chairman Ashutosh Karnatak and other officials, Kaushik termed the delay in the work a result of negligence of PSU’s officials in Haridwar.

The Minister told the GAIL officials that the work in the Kumbh Mela area will be completed within the set deadline. The district administration will not accord permission for any type of work after March 2020 so the work in this area should be completed on priority basis.

On being asked by the Minister as to what scheme they have for the Kumbh Mela area, the officials were unable to provide a clear answer. None of the officials was able to State the scheme or work priority for the Kumbh Mela area. Kaushik stressed that all the work related to the project should be completed in the Mela area by March 2020.

The GAIL chairman said that this was the first meeting to be held in his presence, while adding that from October 15 the work will be undertaken with only the Mela area as the target.

The work will be completed by March 2020 and supply will be facilitated to the populace in the Mela area. If the officials are unable to do this, the responsibility will be fixed, said Karnatak.

The Haridwar district magistrate Deependra Kumar Chaudhry and senior superintendent of police Senthil Avoodai K Raj said that after fixing the deadline, if GAIL is unable to complete the task in the Mela area on time, the works will not be allowed in the said area after the passing of the deadline since works related to the Kumbh Mela are top priority.

Kaushik asked GAIL to communicate in case any cooperation is needed from the State Government, district administration or departmental officials, adding that no such help will be accorded to GAIL officials after March 2020. He also directed that temporary arrangements also be made for gas lines to kitchens in camps of Akhadas to be set during the Kumbh Mela 2021. The scheme for this should be made soon and communicated to the district magistrate and Kumbh Mela officer, he said.

During the meeting, the minister also said that locals will be accorded priority in works being undertaken for undergrounding of power lines and gas pipeline.

As in Varanasi, gas operated crematoria will be made in the two cremation grounds in Haridwar, said Kaushik.