Expressnews
Kanchipuram,6th September 2024: In a significant move to enhance pipeline safety and minimize natural gas leakage incidents, AG&P Pratham, a leading city gas distributor in India, recently held a safety awareness meeting with key government officials. The primary focus of the initiative was to mitigate third-party damage to gas pipelines by promoting increased awareness and strict adherence to safety protocols, particularly through AG&P Pratham’s ‘Dial Before You Dig’ initiative. Also make them aware of Road Safety and signages to provide professional guidance before commencing any excavation work, aiming to prevent accidental damage to underground gas pipelines—a major source of safety hazards.
The event was attended by several prominent officials, including Mr. Charles Sam Rajadurai, Additional Superintendent of Police, Kanchipuram District; Mr. K. Panneerselvam, Motor Vehicles Inspector Gr-1, RTO-Kancheepuram, Mr. Senthil, Head of the Human Resource Department – AG&P Pratham; Mr. Selvamurthy, President of the JCB Operator Association.
Mr. Charles Sam Rajadurai, Additional Superintendent of Police, underscored the critical importance of pipeline safety, stating, “Ensuring the safety of our community is a shared responsibility. AG&P Pratham’s ‘Dial Before You Dig’ initiative is a commendable step that highlights the importance of preventive measures in safeguarding essential infrastructure. Adherence to safety protocols is not merely a recommendation—it is a legal obligation under IPC Sections 285 and 336, with unauthorized damage to pipelines carrying severe penalties, including imprisonment of up to three years and fines up to ₹25 crores. This meeting has provided valuable insights into the causes and consequences of pipeline damage, as well as the necessary measures to prevent such incidents. We fully support the company’s efforts and will ensure our team’s full cooperation in maintaining the safety of the district’s pipeline network.”
Mr. K. Panneerselvam, Motor Vehicles Inspector Gr-1, RTO-Kancheepuram took an extensive Road Safety Awareness session with motto of Zero Accidents and Zero tolerance on Safety Violations. Also Mr. K Paneerselvam spoke on Driver’s Behaviour and Roadside Signages, which was actively participated by more than 70 JCB Operators. The said event was organized with the support of District Administration Kanchipuram and Tamil Nadu JCB Operator Association.
Mr. Thirukkumaran N.T, Regional Head of Kancheepuram GA, highlighted the need for rigorous precautionary measures to ensure pipeline safety, referencing a PNGRB report that revealed over two-thirds of reported incidents in the CGD network were attributed to third-party damage, predominantly due to excavation activities. He stated, “At AG&P Pratham, safety and prevention are of utmost importance in all pipeline-related work. Through our ‘Dial Before You Dig’ initiative, we are actively encouraging individuals to contact us before commencing any excavation. This crucial step helps prevent injuries and safeguards the integrity of our pipeline network. It is our responsibility to foster awareness and ensure the safety of both the pipeline infrastructure and the officials involved in its maintenance.”
The natural gas pipeline safety awareness program by AG&P Pratham highlights the critical need for collaboration between government officials and the community to ensure the safe operation of the city’s gas network. Through the ‘Dial Before You Dig’ initiative, AG&P Pratham emphasizes the importance of safety protocols to protect infrastructure and community well-being. Stakeholders are urged to contact AG&P Pratham at 1800 2022 999 before any excavation to ensure safety.
AG&P Pratham’s Operations in Kancheepuram GA:
AG&P Pratham commenced its operations in Kancheepuram in the year 2021 and has been expanding its presence to fulfil the CNG and PNG connections of the local house owners, vehicle owners, commercial establishments, and industrial units ever since. AG&P Pratham currently has a wide network of 31 CNG stations that serve owners of Buses, Cars, Autos, LCVs and HCVs. The company has received an overall domestic registration of 30,813 households. Currently we are serving 7 major industrial customers and around 170 Industrial & Commercial customers have shown interest in switching to piped natural gas.
About AG&P Pratham: AG&P Pratham is the leading international player in the Indian City Gas Distribution (CGD) industry. AG&P Pratham holds 12 CGD licenses awarded by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to exclusively provide natural gas for everyday use in 37 Districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Rajasthan. The exclusive rights cover the supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to households, industrial, commercial, non-commercial, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for use in vehicles. These CGD networks will cover 278,000 square kilometres, 17,000 inch-km of pipeline, and over 1,500 new CNG stations.
To find out more, visit www.agppratham.com and follow AG&P Pratham’s official social media pages: ·
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