Bengal nod for JV with GAIL for piped gas supply project

West Bengal's Cabinet Committee on Industry on Tuesday gave green signal to a joint venture between state-owned Greater Calcutta Gas Supply Corporation (GCGSC) and GAIL (India) to supply piped natural gas to households in greater Kolkata, a senior minister said.

Finance and Industries Minister Amit Mitra said the committee, headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, gave its approval to the GCGSC holding 26 per cent, and central public sector undertaking GAIL 74 per cent in the joint venture. The project has an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

The central PSU will invest in the project, while the state government will help with assets like land and infrastructure support, he said.

Last month, GAIL (India) Limited's Zonal General Manager Vinay Parshad said the company had submitted a proposal to West Bengal on the issue.

"GAIL will lay the pipeline from Uttar Pradesh's Jagdishpur to West Bengal's Haldia. Thereafter, it is up to the state to act."

The minister said after greater Kolkata, supply would be taken up all over the state.

The pricing aspect has not yet been decided, he added.

--IANS

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