Deora directs IGL to address CNG shortage in Delhi

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora today told senior officials of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) and the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to address the shortfall in compressed natural gas (CNG) in the capital.

He asked all concerned agencies to improve the CNG supply in the national capital on a warfooting.

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During the meeting, IGL Managing Director Om Narayan explained the constraints being faced by IGL in terms of their expansion programme. He claimed that plans for expansion were being held up by the regulating authority over a clarification regarding lack of allotment of new lands and other bottlenecks in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Deora was informed that the current inadequacy of CNG supply in Delhi has been largely caused by the increase in demand by CNG buses/taxis/autos/private vehicles coming from neighbouring suburbs (particularly Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad).

Narayan said that IGL has already made an investment of over Rs. 40 Crore in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and as far as natural gas supplies in Delhi were concerned, there has been a 250 per cent growth of CNG users in the private segment during last two years.He said that IGL has given its detailed expansion plan under which by December 2008, they would be expanding the dispensing capacity of CNG by 30 per cent to 40 per cent by installing 54 new electric motor driven compressors, and 120 CNG dispensers.

The IGL is also in touch with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to allow utilization of their depots at six locations for multiuse, he added.

Responding to the IGL's request for more plots and for single window permission for various clearances to tackle the CNG demand on a warfooting, Deora, assured that he would immediately take up the matter with Delhi Chief Minister and other agencies in the national capital.

Regarding opening up of CNG Stations in Noida and Gurgaon, Deora said he would take-up the matter with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for removing impediments. e observed that the Government of UP and Haryana give the required clearances to IGL for opening CNG stations, it would benefit the public transport in their towns as they are presently required to undertake journey to Delhi to fill up CNG in their vehicles, which is avoidable.

Deora said he would be attending the CNG Consumers Meet organized by IGL at their R. K. Puram headquarters on Sunday for assessing on the spot difficulties being faced by the CNG vehicles while obtaining supplies.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board officials have also been invited to attend.

Presently, IGL runs 163 CNG stations in Delhi and caters to nearly 2.25 lakh vehicles (50 per cent each are public and private vehicles), filling over 13 lakh kgs/day. One month back it was only 11 lakh kg/day.

Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is being supplied to around 1.25 lakh households in Delhi. (ANI)