OREANDA-NEWS. August 25, 2011. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has written the chief secretaries to smoothen the process for the city gas distribution (CGD) companies.

It wants the state machineries to give necessary clearances and the faciliatate implementation to ensure that CGD network operationalise within timeframe. It is also seeking single window mechanism by appointing a nodal officer at the state and district level.

The letter comes as the CGD companies represented to the board on challenges in implementing their projects, which is escalating their costs. Problems of CGD companies include higher right of use charges, pipeline laying not allowed during monsoon, non-availability of land for setting up CNG stations and lack of single window clearances.

"In some states, the ROU charges account for 30% of the total steel pipeline laying costs and as high as 70% of MDPE pipeline laying cost. In many states, this is much higher. There can be no argument that the civic authorities cannot be faulted for expecting the timely restoration of roads as per their specifications. However, this should not be seen as a means of revenue generation," read letter by PNGRB chairman L Mansingh.

PNGRB also urged for the cheif secretaries to to give top most priority for facilitating the setting up of CNG stations, which requires land. It argued that excessive spend on expanding CGD networks will burden the end user.