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New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi dedicated Kochi – Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline to the Nation through a video conference on January 5, 2021. The event marks an important milestone towards the creation of ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’. Governors and Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Kerala, along with Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi termed this day as an important milestone for both the people of Kerala and Karnataka as the two states are being connected by a natural gas pipeline. He said the pipeline will have a positive impact on the economic growth of these two states. He said rapid expansion of Gas based economy is a must to achieve self reliant India and cited this as the reason behind Government’s push for ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’, according to a PIB release.
While listing the advantages of the pipeline, the PM said that the pipeline would improve the ease of living in both the states and reduce the expenses of the poor, middle class, and entrepreneurs. He said the pipeline would become the base of the Gas Distribution System in many cities and would form the base of the CNG based transport system in these cities. He said the pipeline would provide clean energy to Mangalore Refinery and would play a major role in reducing the pollution in both the states.
The PM added the reduction of pollution will have a direct impact on the environment akin to planting millions of trees which would help in improving people’s health and reducing their health related expenditure. He said that less pollution and clean air would attract more tourists to the city. He added that construction of this pipeline generated 1.2 million mandays of employment and would develop a new ecosystem of employment and self-employment after its commissioning which would help the fertiliser, petrochemical and power sector. It will also help India in saving thousands of crores of Foreign exchange for the country.
The Prime Minister said that experts around the world say that in the 21st century, whichever country emphasises the most on connectivity and clean energy would reach new heights. He said in the 27 years before 2014, only a 15 thousand kilometer natural gas pipeline was built. But right now, work is underway on more than 16 thousand km of gas pipeline nationwide which will be complete in the next 5-6 years. He also cited examples of increased CNG fuel stations, PNG connections and LPG connections delivered by this Government which was never seen before.
The Prime Minister said since 2014, the Government has brought in various reforms across the Oil and Gas sector covering exploration and production, natural gas, marketing and distribution. He said the Government is taking policy initiatives to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy basket from 6 Percent to 15 Percent. “Dedication of Kochi-Mangaluru natural gas pipeline of GAIL is part of our journey to move towards One Nation One Gas Grid, ” said the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister said that sincere work is on for getting ethanol from rice and sugarcane. Goal of ethanol blending in petrol up to 20 per cent in 10 years has been set.
As the Prime Minister was speaking to the two coastal states, he laid out his vision of fast and balanced coastal area development. He said that a comprehensive plan for the development of the blue economy in the coastal states like Karnataka, Kerala and other South Indian states is under implementation. He said the Blue Economy is going to be an important source of Aatamnirbhar India. Ports and coastal roads are being connected with a focus on multi-modal connectivity, PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that the Government has taken many steps to protect and enrich the coastal ecosystem. Steps like helping fishermen with deep sea fishing, separate fisheries department, providing affordable loans and Kisan Credit Cards to the people engaged in aquaculture are helping both entrepreneurs and general fishermen. He also talked of the recently launched Rs 20 thousand crore Matasya Samapada Yojna which will directly benefit lakhs of fishermen in Kerala and Karnataka.