India launches biggest city gas distribution auction
New Delhi, May 8:In a major step towards ushering in a clean gas-based economy, India on Tuesday launched its biggest auction of city gas distribution (CGD) networks, offering permits for selling compressed and piped natural gas (CNG and PNG) in 86 geographical areas.
Awards from the 9th CGD licensing round would help bring gas coverage to 174 districts in 22 states and Union Territories, covering 29 per cent of the country's area and 24 percent of the population, said Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launching the bidding round here.
According to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), which organised a roadshow here to promote the auction, the ninth bid round is expected to attract investment of Rs 70,000 crore.
"This is the biggest step so far in CGD expansion, towards raising the gas share in the country's energy mix from 6.2 per cent to 15 per cent in a few years," Pradhan said.
So far, existing 91 geographical areas have been awarded to companies like Indraprastha Gas, GAIL Gas and Gujarat Gas, which cover 11 per cent of area and 19 per cent of the population.
The existing CGD networks are concentrated in the northern and western regions of the country.
"With this, the regulator is also acting as a facilitator for the CGD network," Pradhan said referring to the role of the PNGRB.
Changes have been made to the bidding conditions to facilitate greater return from the exercise. For instance, CGD networks have been granted status of utilities by the Union Labour Ministry.
Under the changed parameters, maximum weightage of 50 per cent has been given to the number of piped gas connections proposed in eight years from the date of authorisation, as against 30 per cent earlier.
The number of CNG dispensing stations proposed to be set up has been given 20 per cent weightage. Length of the pipeline to be laid in a geographical area, and the tariffs proposed for city gas and CNG have been granted 10 per cent weightage each.
Besides, there is a floor tariff of Rs 30 for city gas and Rs 2 per kg for CNG to prevent bidders from quoting unviable low tariffs.
Companies with net worth of not less than Rs 150 crore can bid for cities with a population of 50 lakh and more, while it is Rs 100 crore for cities with 20 lakh to 50 lakh population. Firms with Rs 5 crore net worth are eligible to bid for cities that have less than 10 lakh population.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
