GAIL inks co-operation agreement with HP

Shimla, Nov 4 (UNI) Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) today signed a co-operation accord with Himachal Pradesh for state level co-operation for extension of proposed Dadri-Bawana-Nangal gas pipline up to Himachal.

The GAIL would extend the pipelines from Nangal in Punjab to Parwanoo, Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh region of Himachal Pradesh, said GAIL Managing Director Dr UD Choubey, who was present on the occasion.

Under the agreement both the parties would jointly assess the demand potential of natural gas and allied products in the state.

Mr Chouby said that the gas pipeline would bring clean and envirnonment friendly fuel to various consumers, including domestic, industrial and transport sectors, in the region.

Under the agreement, the GAIL would use its technical and commercial expertise to study the various options and collate the gas demand potential of Himachal.

The GAIL has already conducted a sample survey of some of the industrial areas in Himachal Pradesh and proposed plan would be completed by 2010-11.

The Co-operation Agreement also provides for GAIL and the nominated state agency, to identify industiral clusters for distirbution of natural gas as fuel and to determine modus operandi for setting up of joint ventures by GAIL in the hill state.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said that on behalf of the Himachal Pradesh Government, the Department of Industries would act as a nodal agency for facilitating information pertaining to fertiliser, power, industrial, domestic and transport sectors in the state, which have potential to consume gas and CNG as fuel or feedstock.

The Chief Minister asked GAIL to provide fuel gas to Paonta, Demtal, Una and Bilaspur area. He said that peak hour cut due to shortage of power would be solved after the company would supply the fuel gas to the state.

Addtitional Chief Secretary Abhay Shukla said that there are about 75,000 fleet strength on the road in the state, which were pumping about 7 to 8 tonne pollutants into the air. After this agreement 20,000 trucks would get CNG and the state would get clean energy sources of having capicity of 495 MW.

UNI XC PS JS1752