MNGL stands to lose deposit of Rs10 lakh

The Pune irrigation division has stated that it will hold back Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd’s (MNGL) refundable deposit of Rs10 lakh if it does not clear the remnants of the earthen road constructed in the Mula river.

DNA, in its reports, ‘Maharashtra Natural Gas team inspects damage to Mula river’ (Jan 5) and ‘MNGL road work hits CoEP boating activity’ (Dec 28) had stated how the remnants of an earthen road constructed by MNGL to lay a gas pipeline in the Mula river bed had affected boating activity at the CoEP for the last 18 months.

The 83rd annual regatta of the CoEP is scheduled to be held on January 22. Speaking to DNA on Thursday, deputy executive engineer of Pune irrigation division, HS Muttepawar, said his department had given its no-objection certificate to MNGL on April 11, 2011, to lay the natural gas pipelines in the Mula river bed between Patil Estate and Sangamwadi.

According to Muttepawar, the onus of completing the work and clearing the debris of the earthen road lay with the MNGL. “Our department’s instructions explicitly state that if MNGL does not clear the debris of the earthen road, they would have to forfeit the deposit of Rs10 lakh,’’ Muttepawar said.

When contacted on Thursday morning, MNGL general manager Milind Narharshettywar said his company was committed to clearing the earthen road from the river bed. “We have taken up the matter with our contractor at the highest level and will execute the job at the earliest,’’ he said.