Just so much gas!

JANUARY 8: The foundation stone was laid with much fanfare and ceremony. There was much publicity about the project. Unfortunately it was ...

JANUARY 8: The foundation stone was laid with much fanfare and ceremony. There was much publicity about the project. Unfortunately it was just so much gas!

The piped gas project in Mulund has kicked up a controversy with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) instructing the Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) to remove the “illegal structure”.

The foundation stone was laid by Union Petroleum Minister Ram Naik on Sunday on the footpath near Johnson and Johnson Garden on LBS Marg, Mulund. But BMC authorities have ordered its removal.

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The civic work for the plaque has occupied more space than permitted to us,”admitted Alka Kumar, vice president (Corporate Communications), MGL, while talking to Newsline.“We have decided to remove it,”she added.

Controversy had stalked the function even on Sunday. Local Congress workers in Mulund alleged that Naik and local BJP MP Kirit Somaiya were inaugurating a project which had been initiated by former MP of North East Mumbai, Gurudas Kamat.

“In fact, Naik took away the project to the Western suburbs in his constituency. Now, he is just inaugurating extension work of the project in Mulund and claiming to be starting the project here,”alleged Gangwani.

The Congress lodged a complaint with the local civic authorities allegeing that the construction was illegal and sought its demolition.

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The BMC, in turn,instructed the MGL about its structure but the company offered to remove the marble plaque itself.

“We will relocate it a little behind near the present site,”disclosed Kumar.

The extension of the project in Mulund will help MGL to provide piped gas to 20,000-25,000 households in Mulund.