Puducherry evolves gas distribution policy, invites views from public

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government has evolved 'Puducherry City Gas Distribution Policy 2023' through the Directorate of Industries and Commerce to promote natural gas as a green and clean fuel and extend reliable/ uninterrupted supply of natural gas in the Union territory.

The government has proposed to notify the policy and invited views and comments from the public on the policy on or before September 20 (5pm). The government has posted the draft policy on the official website of the directorate https://industry.py.gov.in.

The public can also mail their views and comments to ind@py.gov.in or send them by post addressed to the director, Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Thattanchavady, Puducherry – 605009 before the deadline.

The policy aims at framing applicable rules/ regulations to encourage the use of natural gas for industrial, commercial, transportation, and household purposes in a phased manner. It also aims at encouraging compressed natural gas (CNG)/ liquified natural gas (LNG) as a preferred transport fuel, LNG bunkering in fishing vessels and boats and conversion of diesel generators in telecom service towers with gas generators through city gas distribution (CGD) entities.

The Union government has proposed to enhance the share of natural gas in primary energy basket from existing 6.71% to 15% by 2030. The Union government has been rapidly expanding the CGD networks across the country, to provide cleaner fuel though piped natural gas (PNG) to households, industrial and commercial units, as well as transportation fuel through CNG to vehicles.