The Hindu : New Delhi News : Steps to ease CNG shortage coming

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Sunday, Jul 20, 2008
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New Delhi

Steps to ease CNG shortage coming

Sujay Mehdudia

Murli Deora asks officials to talk to Haryana, U.P. on opening of new outlets

Delhi Government urged to provide land for opening more gas stations
Construction of CNG outlet stopped midway by the Noida Authority

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over an acute shortage of compressed natural gas (CNG) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) leading to long queues and waiting time outside CNG stations, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora on Saturday directed the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) to take immediate steps to redeem the situation that has assumed alarming proportions.

Stating that commuters should not be put to any inconvenience and all issues should be sorted out on a war footing, Mr. Deora told the officials that whatever measures required should be taken including holding talks with the governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to grant the required permissions for opening of new CNG outlets.

Mr. Deora said he would take up the matter of providing more land for opening new CNG outlets in Delhi with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. “I had earlier also taken up the matter of more land for new outlets with Ms. Dikshit but it seems things have not moved for some reason. I will again meet her if need be to sort out the matter,” he added.

During the meeting, IGL Managing Director Om Narayan explained the constraints being faced by IGL in terms of its expansion programme being held up by the oil regulator due to the ongoing face-off between the Petroleum Minister, IGL and the oil regulator. He also cited lack of allotment of new land and bottlenecks faced by IGL in expanding the CNG network in NCR towns, particularly Noida, where IGL has already completed its pipeline network. The IGL Managing Director said construction of the CNG station had been stopped midway by the Noida Authority. IGL has already made an investment of over Rs.40 crore in Noida, he informed.

As far as Delhi is concerned, there has been a 250 per cent growth of CNG users in the private segment during the past two years. With the recent increase in the prices of petrol and diesel, there has been a sharp rise in CNG conversion by vehicle owners.

IGL has given its detailed expansion plan under which by December this year it would be expanding the dispensing capacity of CNG from 30 p.c. to 40 p.c. by installing 54 new electric motor-driven compressors and 120 CNG dispensers. IGL is also in touch with Delhi Transport Corporation to allow utilisation of their depots.

About opening of CNG Stations in Noida and Gurgaon, Mr. Deora said he would take up the matter with the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Governments for removing impediments and facilitating the CNG expansion programme. The Minister was informed that nearly 20 per cent of the demand for CNG is from NCR region vehicles and opening of new outlets in Noida and Haryana would lead to a comfortable situation in Delhi.

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