CGD to benefit 20L people in DK district

The piped natural gas network will cover 46 per cent of India’s population when the ninth City Gas Distribution (CGD) bidding round will be completed. The network will cover cent per cent of the population by the end of 10th CGD bidding round, Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda said on Thursday.

He was addressing the gathering after unveiling the foundation stone of GAIL (India) Limited’s CGD project in Dakshina Kannada district at Town Hall. Gail had won the authorisation of CGD project in DK district during the ninth round of bidding, awarded by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

Gowda said the natural gas consumption in India is 6.2 per cent as against the 23.4 per cent globally. "The centre’s plan is to increase the share of natural gas in the country's energy mix up to 15 per cent by 2030."

Justifying the grand launch of the project, Gowda said the inaugural programme was not organised for publicity sake but to increase a sense of belonging among stakeholders.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said the CGD project was a befitting gift to Mangaluru’s architect U S Mallya, whose 116th birth anniversary was observed on November 21. Mangaluru under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had benefitted from a string of developmental projects including Tinkering lab for schools.

GAIL Chief General Manager Vivek Wathodka said 20 lakh population would be saved from the hassle of booking gas cylinders.

Vijay said the gas supplied from GAIL’s Kochi-Koottanad-Bengaluru-Mangaluru project to their proposed terminal in MCF will be reduced to 92 kg per hour. The pressure will be further reduced to 21 milli bar when it reaches the house, he said and appealed to the builders to consider piped natural gas network in the planning phase.

PM lays foundation stone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi symbolically laid the foundation stone through video conferencing to mark the start of work for CGDs in 65 GAs (geographical areas) in 129 districts at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

Modi declared that the nation was now moving towards Gas-Based Economy. The prime minister highlighted the steps taken by the Centre, including strengthening the Gas infrastructure in the country, especially increasing the number of LNG terminals, creating nation-wide Gas Grid and creation of City Gas distribution network.

Modi, launching the 10th CGD bidding round, said the Gas networks created a new ecosystem, one that generated employment to youth, enabled gas industries among others.

He vowed to fulfill the targets for clean energy and gas-based economy. He added that such targets were need for the whole of humanity and the future generation.