Govt to push for gas usage to save ecology: CM

Affirming that he was the custodian of the State, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said that he was ready to protect its people and properties.

Addressing the gathering at the Conference on Natural Gas at a star hotel in the city on Wednesday on the subject of ‘Andhra Pradesh: hub of Natural Gas in India’, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries, KKR said that the state government will help in the promotion of all industries, provided they keep the best interests of the state and its people in mind at all times.

The Chief Minister revealed that in Vijayawada, 445 km of piped gas project is currently underway which will supply gas to 2.25 lakh households.

He said that the policy of the Government of India is to ensure that 50 per cent to 75 per cent of all household in India are supplied with Natural Gas. He said that the state government supports this Central initiative.

The Chief Minister said that the successful implementation of the Central government’s initiative will ensure that the forest wealth and other natural resources like coal will be safeguarded for future generations.

KKR added that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has to ensure that the high demand of Natural Gas for cooking does not entice the supplying companies to hike prices.

The Chief Minister added that natural gas is the cheapest available fuel used in vehicles used by the masses. “At one time there were very few cars and other automotives visible in villages, but nowadays, there is no village left which has not seen an automobile,” he said.

KKR said that he was pleasantly surprised to learn that scientists are attempting to use hydrogen derived from water as fuel. He hoped that if the technology is developed quickly, countries like India will be particularly benefited, apart from the environmental benefits.