The Union Minister of
State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today
launched #Gas4India campaign, aimed at promoting the use of gas in the
country. Public and private sector companies working in the sector have joined
hands to promote the natural gas sector. #Gas4India is a unified
cross-country, multimedia, multi-event campaign to communicate the national,
social, economic and ecological benefits of using natural gas as the fuel of
choice to every citizen who uses, or will use in the near future, gas in any
way- cook, travel, light their homes, and power their business. The campaign
includes social engagement via Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, and its
official blogsite, as well as hyper local, offline events to directly connect
with consumers through discussions, workshops and cultural events. Shri Pradhan
launched the website, Twitter handle, facebook page and Theme song of the
campaign.
Making a keynote address,
Shri Pradhan said that the country is moving towards the gas-based economy, and
it is working to increase the share of gas in the country’s energy basket from the
present 6.5%. Complimenting the efforts of all the stakeholders in joining
hands for promoting the use of natural gas, he said the Government has taken
initiatives and policy reforms throughout the Gas chain. The Minister said that
besides the move to enhance gas production, the Government is promoting
nationwide gas grid and setting up gas infrastructure. He said that GAIL has
already finished the tendering process for gas grid and actual process of
laying pipelines will begin soon. Shri Pradhan said the Government is going to
take steps to harness synthetic gas from Coal Bed Methane, and also promoting
Bio-CNG and Bio-PNG. 3 New LNG terminals are also coming up. India has entered
into long term contracts and acquired assets abroad to ensure unhindered supply
of gas at reasonable prices.
The minister said the
Government has given highest priority to PNG. In this regard, he also held
meeting with Senior Officers and representatives from 20 big cities today in
New Delhi. The Minister said that the government is open to suggestions in this
regard and will adopt good new business models. In the meeting he emphasised
that PNG should be taken in mission mode so that environment and health
friendly fuel is available to people at the earliest. The issues of road
cutting fee, Uniform Tax for PNG, provisioning of PNG infrastructure for
upcoming Smart cities were discussed.
YKB