Natural gas pipelines to fuel city kitchens soon

LPG cylinders may soon be a thing of the past and residents can hope to receive natural gas supply via direct pipelines by April next year. The line,being laid between Saharanpur and Ludhiana via Ambala,is likely to be extended to Chandigarh as well. This was stated by Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal who was in the city on Saturday.

Bansal said he had met Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora in Delhi on Friday and got an assurance on this. Since the pipeline is already being laid and Chandigarh is less than 50 kms away,the line will be extended for the benefit of residents.

The construction of the pipeline to Chandigarh will be included in the original plan. The wait for cylinders will soon cease to exist and the stock can be diverted to rural areas.

Deora has also agreed to extending LPG supply to all residents who use kerosene to cook their meals. Oil companies will bear the entire security amount and the consumer will only have to pay for the burner and LPG. The step has been taken in the wake of a cut in kerosene ration given through the Public Distribution System.