Chief Secretary Shri V. Srinivas said that City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities operating in Rajasthan should prioritise providing Domestic Piped Natural Gas (DPNG) connections in areas where the basic infrastructure required for household piped gas supply is already available.
He said that, with the special focus of the State Government, connecting 40,000 new households with DPNG within three and a half months would be a significant achievement. He added that CGD entities and oil marketing companies would need to work in close coordination to facilitate the transition from LPG to DPNG.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the expansion of the domestic natural gas network in the State at a meeting with CGD entities operating in Rajasthan at the Secretariat on Friday. He said that, besides connecting more households with DPNG, the State Government is also focusing on extending PNG facilities to industrial and commercial establishments to promote the use of cleaner energy.
The Chief Secretary directed that government residential quarters also be connected with DPNG facilities and instructed the concerned departments to take necessary action in this regard. He further directed the Food and Civil Supplies Department to coordinate at the district level with CGD entities and facilitate the conversion of LPG connections to DPNG connections.
Target to Add 60 New CNG Stations
Shri V. Srinivas said that the CNG station network in the State also needs to be expanded. He said that the target is to commission 60 new CNG stations during the current financial year. CGD entities were directed to prepare an action plan and work towards achieving the target by December.
Food Secretary Shri Rohit Gupta informed the meeting that District Supply Officers have been directed to coordinate with CGD entities at the district level to facilitate the issuance of DPNG connections.
Special Secretary, Mines, Smt. Namrata Vrishni informed that regular monitoring at the departmental level has resulted in more than 30,000 new households being connected with DPNG services within three months. She said that the required support and guidance is being extended to CGD entities operating in the State.
Director, Petroleum, Shri Avadhesh Singh, apprised the meeting of the progress made in expanding the gas distribution network.
Managing Director, Rajasthan State Gas, Shri Vinay Patni, informed that 13 CGD entities are developing basic infrastructure across 17 geographical areas in the State and providing DPNG, industrial and commercial PNG connections, as well as CNG facilities.
He informed that during the current financial year, 23 new CNG stations, 99 industrial PNG connections and 314 commercial PNG connections have already been commissioned/provided.
Shri Dileepraj, Shri Sushil Hooda and Shri Ankit Soni from the Petroleum Department; Shri Gagandeep Rajoria from Rajasthan State Gas Limited (RSGL); and representatives of the General Administration Department, Finance Department, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and various CGD entities participated in the meeting.