Dharmendra lays foundation stone for 600km gas pipeline project in Sukinda

Bhubaneswar/Sukinda: Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today laid the foundation stones for new Dhamra-Angul and Bhubaneshwar–Cuttack–Paradip gas pipeline at Haripur, Sukinda in Jajpur district as part of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project.

On this occasion, Pradhan said that this 600 km long natural gas pipeline project is a new year gift for the people of coastal districts of the State from the Modi-led government.

Pradhan further stated foundation stone for the LNG terminal at Dhamra with the investment of Rs 6,000 crore has already been laid recently. Gas will be imported from countries like Australia, Qatar in cape size vessels and supplied to Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh through 2,500 km long pipeline.

The natural gas pipeline will be constructed in Odisha covering 13 districts, i.e., Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri and Kendrapara and will connect major industrial clusters of Khurda, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kalinganagar, Jajpur and Paradip.

Among others, Sukinda MLA Pritiranjan Ghadai was present during the ceremony.

Earlier, as part of this pipeline project the Union Minister inaugurated supply of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and CNG-run scooters in Bhubaneswar on yesterday.

Pradhan inaugurated CNG stations in Chandrasekharpur and Patia in Bhubaneswar. Two more stations are being constructed in Khandagiri and Tamando. In coming years, 25 CNG stations will be commissioned in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to supply CNG to vehicles.

Initially, natural gas will reach Bhubaneswar in special containers called “cascades” which will be transported by road from Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh. Later, Natural Gas will be supplied through the 2,655 km long Jagdishpur – Haldia & Bokaro – Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL).

Also Read: Bhubaneswar gets eastern India’s first CNG stations

Meanwhile, BJD spokesperson Prashant Nanda alleged the Centre is only launching projects only to take credits instead of thinking about welfare of people.

Nanda stated, "The project which has already been taken up should meet a logical end and thereafter, new project should be launched."

Refuting the charges, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said, "The state government should think how early it can facilitate land for the project, " adding that BJD leaders should stop being jealous of the Union Minister's achievements.