Commission Asks Delhi Industries to Switch to Gas: Press

The Commission for Air Quality Management of India's federal government has called on industry in the Delhi National Capital Region (Delhi NCR) to switch to piped natural gas (PNG), the Press Trust of India reported on December 22.

The commission said the industrial sector was among the worst air polluters in Delhi NCR. It has held a meeting with state-run gas marketer Gail and retailer Indraprastha Gas (IGL) to review progress in switching industrial facilities in the area to PNG.

The commission directed IGL to ensure the supply of PNG to all identified industries in Delhi by January 31 next year, Press Trust reported. Some 1,644 units across 50 industrial areas in the region have been selected for transfer to PNG. The commission also directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to inspect and identify the industries using unapproved fuels and to take stringent penal action when necessary.

 The 20-member commission on air quality management in Delhi NCR was formed by the ministry of environment on November 5.

The Narendra Modi government is working aggressively to expand gas use in the economy to curb air pollution that plagues major urban areas, especially Delhi NCR. It wants to increase the share of gas in the overall energy mix to 15% by 2030 from 6-7% at present.