Green Gas Limited Clarifies No Additional PNG Connection Charges Beyond Standard Fee
Green Gas Limited (GGL) has issued a definitive clarification stating that there are absolutely no additional charges for piped natural gas (PNG) connections beyond the standard fee of Rs 6,000. This announcement comes directly following intervention by the Lucknow district administration in a protracted dispute involving residents of Sushant Golf City, developed by Ansal API.
Residents Alleged Illegal Extra Charges Citing MoU
The controversy emerged when residents of Sushant Golf City alleged that the real estate developer was imposing extra charges for PNG connections. According to residents, these additional fees amounted to Rs 2,950 since April 2023, with earlier charges reaching up to Rs 8,999. The developer reportedly justified these charges by citing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Green Gas Limited.
Mohan Lal Sahu, President of the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) for Sushant Golf City, Ansal API, stated, "These charges were completely illegal and had already been struck down by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) in February 2024. The developer was charging these fees under the pretext of the MoU signed with GGL." The RWA estimates that over 400 residents paid these extra charges, affecting a society with nearly 12,000 households.
District Administration Intervention Leads to Resolution
The situation escalated after the Government of India made PNG connections mandatory last month. This prompted the RWA to formally approach the Lucknow district administration, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of the extra charges.
Vijay Pratap Singh, the District Supply Officer, explained, "The RWA of Sushant Golf City, Ansal API approached us with genuine concerns. The real estate developer had no right or legitimate excuse to charge extra for PNG connections beyond the standard fee. We have communicated this clearly to the developer."
GGL Maintains MoU Only Ensures Network Availability
Green Gas Limited has consistently maintained that their MoU with the developer solely ensured network availability and had no connection to any additional fees. Praveen Singh, Deputy General Manager of Marketing at GGL, emphasized, "Since Sushant Golf City, Ansal API represents a potential market for PNG service, we signed an MoU with the real estate developer. Beyond the standard fee, which is also refundable, GGL has not charged any consumer extra amounts."
He further elaborated on GGL's operational practices, stating, "GGL is aggressively expanding its network across Lucknow and ensures restoration of areas where ditches are dug for laying medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) pipelines for the PNG network. Therefore, residents of any housing society should not pay a single penny to anyone except the standard GGL fee for PNG connections."
This clarification reinforces GGL's commitment to transparent pricing and adherence to regulatory standards, providing relief to thousands of residents affected by unauthorized charges.
