State government requests PM to set up CNG stations in Odisha
The state government urged the Centre to set up compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Odisha to facilitate provision of alternative fuel for motorized vehicles. CNG, a cost effective and environmental-friendly fuel, is used in vehicles in the place of petroleum or diesel.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the state government would extend all required assistance for establishment of the CNG stations. “Vehicular emission contributes to air pollution significantly. To combat the menace, the state government is keen to set up CNG stations to facilitate motorized vehicles to run on CNG fuel, thereby reducing pollution caused by such emission,” Naveen wrote in the letter.
Naveen said more than 27,000 auto-rickshaws are plying in Bhubaneswar alone, apart from other types of vehicles. Naveen said the CNG fuel facility can also be extended to buses in the city.
Pointing out that availability of natural gas and pipeline infrastructure are pre-requisites for the establishment of CNG stations, he added, “Though the petroleum and natural gas regulatory board have granted authorization to GAIL India Ltd for laying, building, operating and expanding natural gas pipelines along the Surat-Paradip route, no significant progress has been made so far in this regard.”
In the letter, Naveen also said that Mumbai based H-Energy Pvt Ltd has submitted an expression of interest to the petroleum and natural gas ministry for laying, building and operating a natural gas pipeline on the Contai (West Bengal)-Paradip (Odisha)-Dattapulia (West Bengal) route.
“I would, therefore, request you to look into the matter and direct the ministry of petroleum and natural gas to take suitable action to ensure availability of natural gas, pipeline infrastructure and establishment of CNG stations in the state at the earliest,” Naveen wrote. At present, CNG stations are located in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.