Piped gas project: A needless controversy

Sir,

This refers to the news item concerning the issue of ‘Direct to home’ piped gas project highlighting two perspectives — one concerning the views of the elected representatives of the City of Mysuru and the other by a professional expert on the subject recently.

Mysuru has always had the unique distinction of heralding a new venture and in that connection, the citizens are very fortunate that the city has been chosen for this project. Unfortunately, the project has been caught up in a needless controversy between MP Pratap Simha on one side and MLAs Nagendra and Ramdas along with Corporators on the other side, though both the parties in essence have no objection.

While the MP wholeheartedly welcomed it, the MLAs see the problem of road network being badly disrupted besides raising issue of cost. The main thrust of the argument is that many roads have been dug up and same repaired and now for laying the gas pipe it would be dug up again  and who will make up the huge cost.

Bhamy Shenoy, with his abundant experience (having handled such projects) has established  its necessity with incontrovertible facts and figures, for ultimately when it comes for the long time benefit of the citizens, cost becomes secondary importance.

Instead of talking in generalities, it is necessary to have a definitive plan to see the extent of disruption and then work out a plan to overcome it. It is basically an engineering problem and can be solved to the satisfaction of all.

Once it is accepted that it is primarily for the benefit of the citizens, question of cost loses validity. Come to think of it, the history of road construction is well-known and citizens are too well aware of the whole ramification of potholed roads, premature failure of roads etc.

Let all of us work with spirit of cooperation for ultimately the fruit of development is for the benefit of citizens. In an era of fast moving technology, when we are thinking of ten-lane connectivity with Bengaluru, connection with faster Railways and air connection, let us move with times.

Hope wiser counsel will prevail on our elected leaders and think of solving the problems instead of putting road blocks for progress.

– H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Saraswathipuram, 29.1.2022

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