Announcing that Uttarakhand will be made a carbon-free State, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said on Friday that the Centre is all set to introduce CNG-based transportation system by March 2017. “Even domestic gas will be supplied through pipeline as well,” he assured, adding that to ensure unhindered supply of fuel and lPG, the ministry would open 100 more fuel pumps and 250 lPG distributing centres across the state. He further said that Rs 25 billion would be invested in the petroleum sector thanks to the reforms the Centre has initiated.
Most of the pumps and the distributing centres will open in the hills, he said, adding that the people there would find it easier to procure gas. Besides, it would employ many, he said.
“We would ensure that the fuel pumps to be set up in the hills would help to build two toilets-one for men and the other for women-to help the people ease themselves in dignified manner. This would help the tourists immensely,” the Union minister said.
He further said that they were concerned over the report of five lakh women having died due to domestic smoke created by the fire wood or Upla (made of cow dung) being used in the kitchens. “This is why we have decided to distribute five crore lPG connections among the BPl category women under the Ujjawala scheme. In Uttarakhand, the scheme was launched on May 1, 2016. So far we have distributed 50000 lPG connections under the scheme. In India we have disbursed 90 lakh connection so far,” Pradhan said.
“As per the census 2011, around 21 lakh families live in Uttarakhand out of which 90-92 percent have lPG connection. Those left out would be provided with the connection through Ujjawala,” he said, adding that he had asked the officers to open petroleum depots in Nainital, Ranikhet, Dehradun, Rudraprayag and Srinagar. “This would help the people get unhindered supply of petroleum products even when the roads are blocked during the rains and the winter,” the minister said.