Jaipur, March 30 (NationPress) The Additional Chief Secretary for Mines and Petroleum, Aparna Arora, has issued directives to all 13 City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies in Rajasthan to significantly expand piped natural gas (PNG) connections from the current 1.25 lakh households to an ambitious target of 5 lakh households within the next three months.

She emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive roadmap to extend domestic PNG (DPNG) services to both industrial and commercial sectors.

Highlighting the urgency of rapid progress, she requested a three to four-fold increase in the current connection issuance rate.

Currently, CGD entities are managing approximately 50 connections per day, which needs to rise to around 200 connections daily.

Aparna Arora conveyed these instructions during a hybrid meeting with representatives and officials from CGD entities, held in the 'Manthan' Conference Room at the Secretariat on Monday.

She pointed out that 13 CGD entities are operational across 17 geographical areas in the state, providing both CNG and PNG services while developing the necessary infrastructure.

In regions where infrastructure for DPNG and industrial gas supply is already established, she urged CGD entities, district administrations, and the public to collaborate closely to expedite connection issuance and promote the adoption of clean energy solutions. She stressed the simultaneous need to expand infrastructure while increasing connections.

District Collectors were directed to take an active role by coordinating with CGD entities, conducting awareness campaigns, and engaging with industrial and commercial stakeholders to foster the adoption of PNG connections.

She described this initiative as a substantial opportunity for both service providers and the public, reiterating its importance to both Central and state governments.

Aparna Arora also highlighted the goal of connecting industrial establishments in key zones, including Vishwakarma, Jhotwara, and Mahindra SEZ in Jaipur, as well as the textile cluster in Bhilwara, industrial areas in Balotra, and various RIICO industrial estates. Additionally, she called for targeted outreach to hotels and dhaba operators to promote the adoption of natural gas connections.

Reaffirming the importance of accountability, she asserted that CGD entities must adhere to a clearly defined timeline and roadmap to meet their targets promptly, cautioning that any negligence will not be tolerated.

Ranveer Singh, the Managing Director of Rajasthan State Gas, provided an overview of the progress made by CGD entities and outlined future objectives. The meeting also included participation from Joint Secretary (Mines) Arvind Saraswat, Director (Petroleum) Avdhesh Singh, OSD to ACS Krishna Sharma, Superintending Geologist Sunil Verma, alongside representatives from CGD entities and senior officials from the Department of Petroleum.