Pune: Officials of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) said camps organised across industrial areas in the district to expand the PNG (piped natural gas) network have received a strong response from industry members.MIDC, along with Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL), conducted a two-day camp in Chinchwad on April 1 and 2 for units in the Bhosari MIDC area.Sanjay Kutwad, executive engineer, MIDC, said over 50 applications for new PNG connections were received during the camp. “The process to provide connections to these industrial units will now be initiated,” he said.Bhosari MIDC has over 4,000 industrial units, of which nearly 80 already have PNG connections. Kutwad said MNGL has pipeline infrastructure in parts of the belt, and industry associations have also backed the initiative to shift from LPG to PNG. “Around 100 to 150 more units are likely to opt for PNG connections in the coming days,” he said, adding that not every industrial unit operating here requires gas.A similar camp held at Ranjangaon MIDC on Thursday saw around 20 applications for new connections. Kutwad said Torrent Gas supplies gas in the Ranjangaon belt, where 55 units are already connected to the PNG network.The camps are being organised following directions from industries minister Uday Samant, who recently held a meeting with district officials and industry representatives. He had said that such drives would be conducted across districts to boost PNG adoption and ensure time-bound processing of new connections.MIDC officials said similar camps were also held in the Kurkumbh and Baramati MIDC areas on Thursday, where 19 applications were received. The push to shift industries from LPG to PNG comes amid concerns over LPG supply disruptions due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.Kutwad said another camp will be held in Talegaon MIDC on April 6, where both MNGL and Torrent Gas have supply networks. “We urge industry members to participate in large numbers and avail of new PNG connections,” he said, adding that MIDC is fast-tracking permissions for pipeline laying and connections. “Approval was recently granted for laying nearly 12km of gas pipeline in the Phase I area of Talegaon MIDC,” he said.Officials also pointed to recent policy measures by the Centre aimed at expanding PNG networks and reducing dependence on LPG.Kalidas Bhandekar, chief engineer, MIDC Pune division, said the response from industrialists has been encouraging. “It has been decided that the process for new connections will be expedited and formalities prioritised. Permissions for laying pipelines are deemed approved within 24 hours of application, following which further processes are initiated,” he said.
