The Gujarat cabinet on Wednesday conducted a comprehensive review of the availability of domestic and commercial Piped Natural Gas (PNG) across the state, asserting that there is sufficient fuel stock despite the ongoing West Asia crisis. The cabinet also assessed the supply of petrol and diesel in Gujarat.
Government Response to Global Crisis
State government spokesperson Jitu Vaghani stated that the administration has acted swiftly to ensure that ordinary citizens can easily access PNG for domestic use amid the global turmoil. Between March 1 and May 17, Gujarat Energy Ltd (GEL) provided 40,000 new D-PNG connections and 13,000 reconnections to residents. Additionally, approximately 500 new commercial connections were granted during this period.
Collectively, all city gas distribution companies, including GEL, have provided around 85,000 D-PNG connections and 1,100 commercial connections across the state.
Fuel Supply Concerns Addressed
In response to queries about long queues for petrol and diesel in some parts of Gujarat, Vaghani said the matter was discussed in the cabinet meeting. The chief secretary has been directed to ensure that fuel stocks are available at all outlets statewide. “There is adequate stock of fuel. There is no need for panic. People need not resort to stockpiling,” he emphasized.
Prioritizing Institutional Connections
The minister highlighted that the state government has prioritized providing gas connections to hospitals, hostels, schools, colleges, and factory canteens. In the short period under review, GEL provided 110 connections to such institutions, while other state companies offered 225 connections.
Morbi Ceramic Industry Situation
Regarding gas supply to the Morbi ceramic industry, Vaghani explained that in the second half of March, many factory owners in Morbi voluntarily ceased operations due to rising raw material costs and increased transportation expenses. Consequently, only 83 factories were operational as of March 31. However, within just one and a half months, more than 670 factories have resumed operations. Currently, about 865 industrial units in Morbi are connected to GEL’s gas pipeline network.
