Guwahati: Industries, commerce & public enterprises minister Bimal Borah told the assembly on Tuesday that the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, which was available in only seven districts in 2016, has now expanded to 35 districts, marking a major transformation in Assam’s clean energy landscape.The minister was responding to the subject of CNG, PNG and gas pipeline expansion raised by MLA Aminul Haque Laskar in a “Calling Attention” of the minister in the assembly on Tuesday.Borah said, “Assam has recorded significant progress in the expansion of its Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) network, emerging as one of the fastest-growing states in the country in the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) infrastructure. The expansion, driven by the Barauni-Guwahati trunk pipeline and the National Gas Grid, is steadily extending clean and affordable fuel to households, industries and the transport sector across the state.”He said more than 13,500 domestic households have been provided with PNG connections and the state has reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) on PNG from 14.5% to 5%, besides facilitating Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) options for connection and installation charges.On CNG, Borah said more than 46 CNG stations have been commissioned across Assam, adding that wider availability is contributing to lower vehicular emissions, improved urban air quality and reduced transportation costs.“Supporting this expansion is an extensive gas pipeline network. More than 5,712 km of gas pipelines have already been laid across Assam, creating the backbone for supplying PNG to homes, commercial establishments and industries, while also ensuring a steady supply of natural gas to CNG stations,” he added.The CGD network is being developed by four authorised entities. Assam Gas Company Ltd is implementing the network in six Upper Assam districts — Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Tinsukia — while Adani Total Gas Ltd has undertaken CGD development across 16 districts. North East Gas Distribution Company Ltd is implementing the network in North Assam, and Purba Bharati Gas Private Ltd (PBGPL), a joint venture of AGCL, OIL and GAIL Gas, is developing CGD infrastructure in Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan and the Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Sribhumi.Borah said the Barak Valley has seen progress under the South Assam CGD Project. “In Cachar district alone, 2,484 households have already been connected to the PNG network. A City Gate Station has been commissioned, while the medium-pressure steel network has been expanded across the Valley,” he added.To speed up implementation, the minister said district administrations have been instructed to accord road-cutting and Right of Use (RoU) permissions within 24 hours, wherever feasible, with state- and district-level monitoring committees overseeing execution and resolving local issues.
