International oil expert says MCC should approve people-friendly project without any misgivings
Mysore/Mysuru: The move to put hurdles on the ambitious gas pipeline project by a section of Corporators and elected representatives is unfortunate and will go down in Mysuru’s history as a chapter of infamy. This is nothing but betrayal of the city by our own leaders, opined international oil and energy expert Bhamy V. Shenoy.
In a communiqué to the media, Bhamy, who has vast experience in handling the gas supply chain at international level, has said that the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) should approve the project to supply piped gas to domestic consumers without any misgivings.
The project of procuring cooking gas through pipeline at home through Piped Natural Gas (PNG) that was announced in September 2021 has already begun and works are on to lay pipelines and metres to houses in Hebbal. The project will be realised by 2023 where over 40,000 homes in Mysuru will get the supply in the first phase.
Immensely beneficial
Following reports of objections raised by a section of Corporators and elected representatives on the Narendra Modi Government project being implemented, Bhamy Shenoy observed that the leaders must realise the benefits of the project before putting hurdles in it.
Bhamy Shenoy is the former Manager of Strategic Planning at ConocoPhillips and he was also the member of the Board of National Oil Company of Georgia. As an expert in managing gas supply chains (as USAID Consultant), he was in charge of managing a gas company Tbilgazi, in Tbilisi, Georgia and had first-hand experience of how Georgians suffered when they lost gas supplies and the problems they faced in using LPG.
“Rather, the leaders must work towards speedy implementation of the project that is immensely beneficial to the people of Mysuru. Instead of betrayal, they must join hands towards development,” he said.
Preferred cooking fuel
“All over the developing world, even where there are no domestic natural gas supplies, it is a preferred cooking fuel. Even in many developing countries whenever it can get access to gas supplies, it is a preferred fuel,” he stated.
As part of increasing the share of gas in meeting India’s energy requirements, Prime Minister Modi has set the goal of 15 percent for gas by 2030. One of the strategies to reach that goal is to supply gas to residences in most urban centres.
Mysuru lucky
“We in Mysuru are fortunate to be one such urban centre to get gas supply. I would have expected our elected leaders to urge the Centre to expedite the project. It is unfortunate that instead our Corporators are putting hurdles to delay the project by advancing irrational arguments. It is just a question of time that gas will come to Mysuru and we the people will welcome it,” Bhamy has stated.
Compared to LPG, piped gas is a preferred fuel for several reasons. From a safety point, natural gas is a preferred one. From an energy security point also, natural gas is preferred one. It is not easy to disrupt gas supplies because of any disruptions like gas staff going on strike.
“The supply chain of LPG is far more complex than the natural gas supply chain. India is increasingly dependent on imports to meet the requirement of LPG and natural gas. Natural gas burns better and cleaner than LPG to produce less greenhouse gases,” he argued.
Difference between LPG and piped gas
In chemical terms, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) consists mostly of propane and butane which are heavy molecules compared to piped gas which is methane. Both are in gaseous form at normal conditions.
India depends on imports to meet the requirement of both LPG and natural gas though India produces both. Natural gas is imported in the liquefied form at extremely low temperatures in special ships. LPG is imported from different countries though mostly from the Middle East, China, US, etc. In the case of LNG (natural gas), it is mostly from Qatar, Australia, US, Malaysia, etc.
These hurdles happen only because we have corporators/politicians who are illiterate, ignorant and currupt. However, the govt must go ahead with these projects which are beneficial to the people, despite any opposition. It is the only way a city or the country will progress.
Before looking at the issue of the natural gas pipeline in Mysuru, Let us look at the credentials of this ‘international oil expert’ Bhamy Shenoy, a relatively new resident to Mysuru who arrived in the massive influx of non-Mysoreans afterb1980, necessitating the maasive house building operation by clearing forest at the perimeter of the Old Mysuru, thus triggering the destruction of this once serene Royal city.
He never loses an opportunity to get him into local headlines! Makkaji Chowk, Deveraja Market, recently Chamundi Hill- eco-based politicking! I am right in assuming that he is one of the members of ths demented group called MGP, a bunch of retirees, one of who has written the bad 7-part series of Mysuru going the Bengaluru way. Dabbling in politcs-Bharmy himself is a failed politico, this ‘Grahachara’ crowd takes many incarnations, recently as a bunch of eco warriors., although they as new comers initiated the eco system destruction of this Royal city.
Now about the natural gas pipe line. Mysuru and Karanataka are not Tbilisi and Georgia, the latter as a whole has a population of a fraction of Karnataka’s population, which means the demand for energy supply is low as compared to Mysuru/Karnataka which have massive population in comparison. Georgia has diverse energy sources. Experience in this sparsely populated Black Sea area is not relevant to Mysuru/Karnataka.
Gas pipelines are notoriously subjected to leakage, which does mean potential gas explosion incidences. They need to be laid with high quality pipes,well sealed and frequently maintained. Can Mysutu do these? Indian products are known for their quality,and one could expect the contractors cutting corners and doing poor quality work. Just look at the construction work around the city and the roads too. Then there is the continuity of the gas supply-India isnot one of the major natural gas producers. The centrally computer costs to households, which will increase massively each year. The has lines will not cover the whole city in the near future, leaving large areas of the city depending on LPG cylinders.
One can understand the reservations on this plan. Just because selfies-loving Modi suggests this , does not make it right. Just remember the oxygen supplies fiasco in India, for Covid patients, which made international headlines.
Finally, Bharmy’s idea: developing Devaraja Market into something similar to a Grand Bazaar of Istambul! If this is nit barmy,what can this delusion be!!
I would say to him,contrary to his much mistaken belief , the IITs did have and do have a good percentage of places that are allocated to students on grounds other than merit-very often the backdoor entries forced by politicians and money! It has been so since these IITs arrived on the scene .decades ago.
Before looking at the issue of the natural gas pipeline in Mysuru, Let us look at the credentials of this ‘international oil expert’ Bhamy Shenoy, a relatively new resident to Mysuru who arrived in the massive influx of non-Mysoreans after1980, necessitating the massive house building operation by clearing forest at the perimeter of the Old Mysuru, thus triggering the destruction of this once serene Royal city.
He never loses an opportunity to get him into local headlines! Makkaji Chowk, Deveraja Market, recently Chamundi Hill- eco-based politicking! I am right in assuming that he is one of the members of ths demented group called MGP, a bunch of retirees, one of who has written the bad 7-part series of Mysuru going the Bengaluru way. Dabbling in politcs-Bharmy himself is a failed politico, this ‘Grahachara’ crowd takes many incarnations, recently as a bunch of eco warriors., although they as new comers initiated the eco system destruction of this Royal city.
Now about the natural gas pipe line. Mysuru and Karanataka are not Tbilisi and Georgia, the latter as a whole has a population of a fraction of Karnataka’s population, which means the demand for energy supply is low as compared to Mysuru/Karnataka which have massive population in comparison. Georgia has diverse energy sources. Experience in this sparsely populated Black Sea area is not relevant to Mysuru/Karnataka.
Gas pipelines are notoriously subjected to leakage, which does mean potential gas explosion incidences. They need to be laid with high quality pipes,well sealed and frequently maintained. Can Mysutu do these? Indian products are known for their quality,and one could expect the contractors cutting corners and doing poor quality work. Just look at the construction work around the city and the roads too. Then there is the continuity of the gas supply-India isnot one of the major natural gas producers. The centrally computer costs to households, which will increase massively each year. The has lines will not cover the whole city in the near future, leaving large areas of the city depending on LPG cylinders.
One can understand the reservations on this plan. Just because selfies-loving Modi suggests this , does not make it right. Just remember the oxygen supplies fiasco in India, for Covid patients, which made international headlines.
Finally, Bharmy’s idea: developing Devaraja Market into something similar to a Grand Bazaar of Istambul! If this is nit barmy,what can this delusion be!!
I would say to him,contrary to his much mistaken belief , the IITs did have and do have a good percentage of places that are allocated to students on grounds other than merit-very often the backdoor entries forced by politicians and money! It has been so since these IITs arrived on the scene .decades ago.
Correction: not and other typos. Sorry.
So, what is this ‘international oil expert’ Shenoy is doing in Mysuru where it is well known that no oil or natural gas produced?
When did he as claimed introduced natural gas pipe line infrastructure in Tibilisi?
Even a cursory research shows that Georgia imports all its gas from Azerbajan, a neighbouring country which has a significant gas reserve, and a massive 10year plan for the pipeline structure is in operation in Georgia, which I can surmise does not involve this ‘international oil expert’.
The terrain though which this gas pipeline runs is largely uninhabited by people, and Tbilisi is a quaint old city, not as much developed as Mysuru with mainly tourism-leveraged cafes and hotels- a scenario totally different from the Mysuru gas pipeline infrastructure in question. Georgia is vulnerable in terms of its gas reliance and already the price increase of gas delivered by this Azerbaja-Tbilisi gas pipeline is hitting people.
Mysoreans are well advised to think carefully before giving up their LPG-based gas supplies to an unrelaible and leakage-dominatedgas pipeline supply.
“When did he as claimed introduce….’
What to do if the Natural Fart leaks from the lines due to poor quality pipe laying?
@Shanky
That is easy to fix. Giving you a good dosage of powerful laxative, putting you under a diet of pure water, for a couple of days, and followed by a good stich by a surgeon to seal the exit.