Shillong : The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), on Friday, hosted its first roadshow for the 12th city gas distribution (CGD) bidding round here in Meghalaya.
The 12th CGD bidding round aims to expand the reach of natural gas to eight more geographical areas covering six North East states and Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
“On completion of the bidding round, almost the entire country (except islands), will be covered under the CGD network, marking a giant leap towards achieving a gas-based economy and would greatly help in conserving the natural environment of the areas,” a PNGRB official said.
Inaugurating the roadshow, Meghalaya Deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar highlighted the virtues of natural gas and the positive impact it will have in creating job opportunities, providing access to clean energy along with supporting and developing local businesses.
Dhar also highlighted the potential in collaborating with PNGRB for development of natural gas infrastructure in the state and setting up of incubation centres for the entrepreneurial and skill development youth of Meghalaya.
Chairperson, PNGRB, Anil Kumar Jain articulated PNGRB’s current focus on creation of a vibrant and sustainable gas infrastructure across the entire country especially in the North East States and highlighted the fact that the Region as a whole has ample gas resources and arrival of cross-country pipelines as well as CGD networks is a singular event in the “energy story of” North East India.
“With the completion of Barauni Guwahati trunk pipeline, and Guwahati-Dimapur pipeline by GAIL and IGGL, the NE part of the country will be integrated with the national gas grid,” he said and also urged the State Government to bring reform with regards to taxation on natural gas and developing a CGD Policy in Meghalaya on the basis of draft policy provided by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.
Jain also highlighted that the Meghalaya government is itself a major procurer of vehicles which could be shifted to CNG based considering the fact that CNG is a much cleaner fuel than liquid fuels.
