New Delhi: In a significant business development, Dr. Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), engaged in a pivotal meeting with Shri Banwarilal Purohit, Administrator of UT of Chandigarh and Governor of Punjab, on January 19, 2024, in Chandigarh.
The Chairperson apprised the Governor of the strides made in Oil & Gas Infrastructure, particularly in the UT of Chandigarh, aligning with PNGRB’s commitment to realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of elevating Natural Gas’s share to 15% in India’s energy mix. Stakeholders were informed about the advancements in promoting natural gas in Punjab, emphasizing its environmental benefits and the convenience of piped natural gas in households and CNG in transport.
Crucial matters such as substituting polluting fuels and rationalizing charges were deliberated upon. Dr. Anil Jain underscored the CGD licensee’s readiness, with UT Administration’s support, to ensure “HarGhar PNG” by March 2025, in line with Chandigarh’s clean and green image.
The Governor pledged full support for the development of natural gas infrastructure in the UT of Chandigarh.
In a parallel meeting, PNGRB Chairperson also met Shri Nitin Kumar Yadav, IAS, Home Secretary, and Adviser to Administrator, and Commissioner, MC, Chandigarh. Discussions centered around promoting natural gas across various sectors.
The Home Secretary affirmed UT Administration’s unwavering support towards this collective objective, anticipating a substantial enhancement of natural gas in Chandigarh’s energy portfolio.
PNGRB, having authorized 300 Geographical Areas across the nation, covering 98% of the population and 88% of the area for CGD Network development, aims to achieve ambitious targets by 2032. As of November 30, 2023, the country has seen the establishment of 1.2 crore domestic PNG connections and 6,159 CNG stations, contributing significantly to the widespread adoption of this clean fuel.