A high level Apex Committee would be constituted under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary Industries to ensure better coordination between the State Government and the Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) for providing piped gas for industrial and domestic use in the State. This was decided in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri with the senior officers of the GAIL here today.
Agnihotri said that Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, concerned Deputy Commissioners, General Manager, Construction, GAIL and Chief Operating Officer of GAIL Gas India Limited would be other members of the Committee. He said that the State Government was endeavouring to provide alternative energy supply to the industrial houses at competitive rates.Industries Minister said that GAIL had laid gas pipe line from Nangal to Tahaliwal industrial area in Una district which would be formally inaugurated during the month of August. He said that now State Government was contemplating to provide gas pipe line for industrial areas of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh and Parwanoo. He said that this would not only give boost to industrialization in the State but also help in meeting energy requirements of the industrial houses.
Agnihotri said that all the clearances related to various approvals for laying the gas pipe line would be given by the State level Single Window Clearance Authority. He said that in next phase possibility would be explored to provide CNG stations along the gas pipe line route for providing alternative fuel to the transport sector. Ashutosh Karnatak, Director, Projects, Gas Authority of India Limited said that natural gas was not only cheaper source of energy but environment friendly. He said that GAIL would provide all possible technical support to the State in effective implementation of natural gas projects. Principal Secretary, Industries Shri R.D. Dhiman, General Manager, Construction, GAIL Shri Partha Jana and other senior officers attended the meeting.