CM pitches for declaring Srinagar, Jammu as CNG cities

Srinagar/April,22: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti Saturday pitched for declaring Srinagar and Jammu as CNG cities in view of the future needs even as she also sought execution of work at fast pace on the Bathinda-Jammu–Srinagar Gas Pipeline and increase in the quota of subsidized kerosene oil to the State.
The Chief Minister said this while interacting with Union Petroleum Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, who is in Kashmir these days alongwith a 20 member Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry.
Mehbooba Mufti said since the experiment of using CNG has been successful elsewhere, there is a need to adopt this mode of fueling in the State as well in view of the clean nature of the fuel.
The Union Petroleum Minister directed his Ministry to explore the possibility of including the two cities in the CNG cascade being developed by his Ministry. He also assured the Chief Minister that his Ministry would ensure that adequate and requisitioned quantity of subsidized kerosene oil is made available to the State.
On the specific demand of the Chief Minister to conduct on campus recruitment of local youth at Srinagar and Jammu, the Union Minister directed the heads of all oil PSUs to conduct a special recruitment drive at Srinagar and Jammu in the coming days and months.
Mehbooba Mufti also sought setting up new Gas Agencies and Petrol Pumps in the leftover areas of the State to ensure parity of fuel supplies in these areas.  Pradhan assured to look into the demand.
The Union Minister also sounded positive on the demand of the Chief Minister to establish potable petrol pumps in the State.
On the demand of the Chief Minister to set up oil depots and Bottling Plants at Anantnag, Rajouri and Kargil, the Union Minister asked his Ministry to start the process of identifying land for the purpose after which the necessary steps would be taken.
The Chief Minister also sought shifting of oil depots from Jammu and Leh city areas to outskirts in view of the safety precautions and for which the land has also been identified. The Union Minister on the spot directed starting the process of shifting of these oil depots at the quickest. He also directed his Ministry to consider the proposal of the State Government for inclusion of leftover families of the State in the PMUY Plus scheme.
Members of Parliament, Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Nazir Ahmad Laway; several MPs and members of the Consultative Committee; heads of various public sector oil companies; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Director, FSCA, Tassaduq Jeelani and other officers were present on the occasion.