HYDERABAD: The Chairman, Petroleum, Natural Gas Regulatory
Board (PNGRB), Mr L. Man Singh today assured the Chief Minister Dr K Rosaiah
that the cooking gas will start reaching the kitchens of the citizens of the
GHMC area positively in two months time. The piped cooking gas distribution
will start from NALSAR Colony, Shamirpet and will be extended to other parts of
the city soon.
The Chief Minister thanked Mr. Man Singh and his officials
for all the support extended to Andhra Pradesh in honoring the requests. He
said the PNGRB has been extending the fullest support to Andhra Pradesh in
developing an Integrated Gas Grid. The Chief Minister said the PNGRB accepted
the State proposal for district as a unit in City Gas Distribution and are
thankful that district-wise gas distribution plan is being laid.
The Chief Minister expressed happiness that the PNGRB has
recently notified four districts--Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nalgonda and Khammam for
bidding to develop City Gas Distribution net work. Already the City Gas
Distribution for Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kakinada and Rajahmundry has been
awarded and the work is in progress. The APGIC is going to submit bid documents
for 4 districts, which are recently notified.
Dr Rosaiah said the State Government (Andhra Pradesh Gas
Infrastructure Corporation--APGIC) requested the PNGRB to take up trunk line
between Kakinda and Kolkotha, so that the distribution net work can be laid in
the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam, as the
Kakinada-Kolkata trunk line has not been taken up so far. He said the State
Government (APGIC) will be approaching the PNGRB for City Gas Distribution net
work for the remaining districts in the State, starting from West Godavari,
Krishna, Warangal, Karimnagar, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and
East Godavari. The Gas Distribution in the districts falling south to Krishna
river is also being planned by the State and shortly Expression of Interest
will be filed with the PNGRB.
He said a proposal for a regional grid for the entire
State is under preparation and the State Government (APGIC) will approach the
PNGRB for bidding shortly. The Chief Minister requested the PNGRB to extend the
same support, as they have been giving, in future also to complete the plans
which APGIC has prepared for the Gas Distribution in Andhra Pradesh for all the
sectors including domestic, industrial, transport, commercial, power and
fertiliser plants etc. The State Government requested the PNGRB to complete all
the trunk lines passing through Andhra Pradesh and wanted the Kakinada-Chennai
trunk line to be taken up on priority basis as it will give gas connectivity
for all the districts of south coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, as large number
of industrial units are coming up in Chittoor, Tirupati and Nellore Districts.
The Chief Minister was told that the bid process for
Central India trunk line, which is crossing the districts of Krishna, Khammam,
Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad is on. He said that the same should be
finalised and awarded as early as possible; Trunk line connecting Chennai and
Bangalore should also be completed as it will cater to the requirements of
Rayalaseema districts. Dr. Rosaiah also thanked the PNGRB for all the support
they have extended and assured that Andhra Pradesh will extend full cooperation
in achieving the objectives of development of gas net work in Andhra Pradesh.
Besides Mr Man
Singh, the meeting was attended by Mr Ratan P Wattal, Secretary, PNGRB, Mr B R
Meena, MD, APIIC, Principal Secretary to CM, Sam Bob and other officials.