Gas cylinder for Rs 100: govt bid

If things go according to the proposal under consideration by the state government, Domestic Cooking Gas cylinders would cost as low as Rs 100 per refill.

The state government is mulling a proposal to bring down the LPG cylinder price from the prevailing Rs 300 odd to Rs 100 provided the gas supply position to the state improve. Besides, the government is also planning to provide piped gas to every home.

Speaking to media persons soon after taking charge, Minister for Infrastructure, Airports and Ports Komatireddy Venkatareddy stated that he would go to New Delhi shortly and seek the support of the Centre to speed up the flow of gas to the state on priority.

The Minister would also meet the authorities of GAIL and ONGC in this regard.

House- holds in Shamirpet and Kompally mandals near the city will first receive gas pipeline connections in January 2011 on a trial basis, under the aegis of Chief Minister N Kiran kumar Reddy and the infrastructure minister. Later, the foundation stone will be laid on January 28, and tenders will be called for supply of piped gas by 2012 for Hyderabad city, informed the Minister.

The work has been entrusted to the Bhagyanagar Gas Company. 

In the four districts of Khammam, Medak, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy, gas supply through pipelines will be affected in four to five months from now.

Later, rest of the districts in the state will be supplied piped gas. Instructions have already been issued, as part of the process, to call the tenders in this regard, said the Minister.

Referring to the airports, he said airports at Tirupati and Visakhapatnam will be upgraded into international airports with the cooperation of Central government.

To facilitate better and quicker transport of coal and petroleum products, steps will be taken to complete the works at Machilipatnam Port and Gangavaram Port.

Replying to a question, he said there was no point in resigning on the portfolio issue.

The infrastructure was always an important branch. "The Chief Minister himself has allotted this important portfolio to me," he clarified.