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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Gas crunch reaches Mumbai’s high-rise

Mahanagar Gas cuts PNG supply by 50 pc; biz hit Mumbai : Delivering another shock, the Mahanagar Gas Ltd. on Saturday mandated all commercial users to draw only 50 pc of their piped natural gas (PNG) supply with a warning of steep fines and abrupt cut in connection for violators, sending shockwaves in the industry.   This comes barely 48 hours after its first missive (March 12) imposing a 20 per cent  cut in PNG offtake by commercial users, which hit the bakery industry hard, amid...

Gas crunch reaches Mumbai’s high-rise

Mahanagar Gas cuts PNG supply by 50 pc; biz hit Mumbai : Delivering another shock, the Mahanagar Gas Ltd. on Saturday mandated all commercial users to draw only 50 pc of their piped natural gas (PNG) supply with a warning of steep fines and abrupt cut in connection for violators, sending shockwaves in the industry.   This comes barely 48 hours after its first missive (March 12) imposing a 20 per cent  cut in PNG offtake by commercial users, which hit the bakery industry hard, amid  speculation that lakhs of domestic PNG users may be affected next.   The MGL’s directives follow a central order (March 9), calling upon all commercial users to restrict their PNG consumption to only 50 pc of their average usage over the past six months.   The revised rules within 48 hours sent fresh shockwaves among the already panicked commercial PNG users, triggering apprehensions that even domestic consumers may feel the heat with likely ‘rationing’ of their convenient piped fuel connections.   “The gas curtailment is around 50 pc for industrial customers and 20 pc for commercial customers to maintain continuous gas supply to our CNG stations and domestic PNG customers,” a company spokesperson told  The Perfect Voice , justifying its ‘force majeure’ intimations.   Price Revision In its first order, the MGL had indicated a revision in PNG prices due to “gas pooling” arrangements, with the final rates to be announced after consultations with suppliers and the government.   Today, it willy-nilly unveiled the potential harsh hike in the rates of PNG: “We have been informed that any gas drawal by MGL exceeding permissible levels will attract a gas price of Rs 138/Standard Cubic Metre plus VAT.”   Accordingly, all commercial users have been warned that from Friday (March 13), if they cross the threshold limits (50 pc), they will be charged Rs 138/SCM  (Rs. 4091.21/MMBTU), and further usage above the permissible limits would lead to abrupt disconnection of supplies.   Piped Gas Presently, the MGL has over 30-lakh households using PNG in Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), besides 5,200-plus commercial-industrial clients spread in multiple sectors, wholly dependent on piped gas connections.   Additionally, it runs 471-plus CNG stations and supplies it to more than 12-lakh vehicles including public and private transport, with plans to cover large urbanized pockets of Raigad district by 2029   Some of its bulk users include: Godrej Industries Ltd., Larsen & Toubro, Hindalco, several five-star hotels, IT companies, medicare like Asian Heart Institute or Lilavati Hospital, pharmaceutical industry, food and beverages, etc.   Home-makers howl An online achievement school ‘Multiversity of Success’ Founder Dr. Rekhaa Kale (Sion) said if the PNG cuts reach homes, it will disrupt the lives of millions of Mumbaikars. “Now, I regret giving up my LPG cylinders 10 years ago for the PM-Urja scheme, it could have been a life-saver today,” grumbled Dr. Kale.   A private nurse Kirron V. (Dahisar) rued that the real impact of gas shortage will be visible in Mumbai if domestic PNG supplies are also hit. “The so-called elite living in airconditioned high-rises sniggered and ‘looked down’ upon those sweating it out in snaky queues for a LPG cylinder,” she said sarcastically.   As the Gulf War entered the 15 th  day today, the FHRAWI-AHAR Vice-President Pradeep Shetty and other major organisations have repeatedly slammed the government for the acute short supply of LPG leading to chaos all over.

Uddhav, Raj hoping for political miracle

Mumbai: Former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray was seen glowing as he celebrated his ‘Sapphire’ (65th) birthday with his family plus a huge crowd of supporters.

 

The revelry became a major political event when in walked his cousin and ex-bete-noire, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, who is said to stepped inside his erstwhile home of Matoshri after almost six years; the last occasion was to invite Uddhav and family for son Amit’s wedding (January 2019).

 

Lot of water has flowed in the Mithi River since – two Lok Sabha and two Assembly elections, the 2019 state polls saw a reluctant Uddhav suddenly catapulted to the CM’s throne – while Raj continued to play musical chairs and video clips.

 

After the cake-cutting and ‘say cheese’ instances, the most-anticipated moment came – when the cousin brothers went in for private confabulations, as party leaders and workers strained their eyes and ears.

 

However, belying the salubrious political ambience of the past few weeks, there were no earth-shattering announcements, barring Raj calling Uddhav his ‘bandhu’ and – most importantly – declaring him as the ‘Shiv Sena Chief’, besides laudatory social media posts from both sides.

  

Public perception

Weighing heavily are aspects like the public perception of the MNS which recently whipped up bad blood for enforcing Marathi language on non-speakers, leading to an outcry.

 

The SS (UBT) is also wary about the prospects of losing its minority and North Indian supporters given the MNS’ shrill campaigns targeting loudspeakers in mosques or attacking ‘outsiders’ coming to appear for various job-oriented public examinations in Maharashtra.

 

The other Maharashtra Vikas Allies (MVA) like Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) have not exactly danced with joy at the proposed SS(UBT)-MNS pact, with leaders privately questioning the MNS’ political strength and credibility given Raj’s mercurial behaviour in the past 15 years.

 

Avoiding a direct response whether MNS could be included in the MVA bloc, senior functionaries of Congress-NCP (SP) pass the buck, saying “it’s upto the top leaders to decide” in the overall interest of the state.

 

The successful birthday bash on July 27 notwithstanding, the real celebrations - or prospects of 1+1=11 expressed by a MNS leader - remain a distant dream.

 

Cautious optimism over political handshake

Party leaders on both sides who spoke with ‘The Perfect Voice’ sought to downplay media speculation of a ‘resumption of political partnership’, with one MNS office-bearer even asking, “When did the talks stop?” and a SS (UBT) prominent one wondering what was the immediate occasion for ‘tie-up’ as the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are due after four years.

 

“The political alliance talks are still at a nascent stage… There’s a long road to cover. The upcoming civic polls are a close target to clinch it, but a lot of groundwork is needed,” a SS (UBT) leader said guardedly.

 

“That is true… We have to clear up many issues before a formal partnership is born. Both sides are working on it, adopting a practical approach but without expecting miracles,” a MNS leader said cautiously.

 

No one had any idea Raj would visit Uddhav

No one had any idea that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray would arrive at Matoshree to wish Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray on his 65th birthday, the latter's party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said on Monday.


The Saamana report said MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar called Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut informing him that Raj is visiting Matoshree in Bandra East to wish Uddhav.


The report said Raj left Shivthirth, his residence in Shivaji Park in Dadar, at 11.30 am. Raut, also Saamana's executive editor, then informed Uddhav about Raj's visit.


When Raj reached Matoshree at 12 noon on Sunday, Uddhav welcomed him at the entrance. Both the cousins then went to the seat that was used by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and paid respect.


In a related development, BJP minister Nitish Rane said there is no reason for anyone to feel sad about anyone if the family has come together.


But Raj has to be appreciated for showing a big heart, he said. 

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