Pashchimanchal Gas Company Ltd (PGCL) has directed the authorities of TMSS CNG Refuelling Station and TMSS CNG Ltd to pay about Tk 84 lakh in addition to the gas bills that they paid since their commissioning on January 9 and December 4 last year.

The PGCL order followed allegations of illegally selling electricity that was produced using the gas taken for compressor and lighting of CNG filling stations.

The two firms, run by NGO Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), will have to pay the extra gas bill within next 15 days and gas connection would be snapped as per law if the order is not carried out, the PGCL authorities said.

PGCL order issued on October 12 said TMSS CNG Refuelling Station at Naudapara in Sadar upazila and TMSS CNG Ltd in Shahjahanpur upazila paid Tk 61.16 lakh and Tk 22.58 lakh less than their actual bills till September this year.

Now gas connection to a paper mill run by the NGO will not be given as it demanded more gas than it took allocation for, PGCL Managing Director Md Ali Hossain said.

Talking to this correspondent over cell phone yesterday, TMSS Executive Director Hosne Ara termed the PGCL order 'illegal' and said initiative has been taken for legal steps against the order.

Hosne Ara, however, admitted that although she took approval of gas for a 750 KV gas generator and 6-ton capacity boiler she has imported a 1000-kilowatt capacity and another 1360-kilowatt capacity generator and an 8-tonne capacity boiler without informing the PGCL authorities.

She also admitted that she sold electricity produced by the gas taken for the filling stations to the villages adjacent to the two CNG stations.