Chief minister Raghubar Das along with Union petroleum, natural gas and steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda on Friday launched piped gas supply to kitchens and two CNG (compressed natural gas) stations.

With this, the capital became the first city in the state where piped natural gas (PNG) is available directly in kitchens.

By pressing buttons, the ministers launched a de-compression station at Shyamali, the residential colony of Mecon employees, from where the piped gas will be supplied, and the two CNG stations — one at Khukri petrol station near Rajendra Chowk within the city, and another at Madhuban near Ormanjhi.

The event was organised by GAIL India at Prabhat Tara Maidan at HEC, and those present could also witness through live streaming piped gas supply to a kitchen and filling of fuel of about 50 CNG vehicles.

The dignitaries also virtually laid the foundation stones of the offices of GAIL’s eastern India headquarters in (WHERE) and a gas-operated crematorium in Harmu in Ranchi.

Piped gas will be supplied to about 3,000 households in Shyamali and adjoining areas. It will be scaled up to 10,000 homes within the next one year.

“I’m happy to see piped gas supply become a reality so soon,” Das said, recalling he had inaugurated the pipe lying work for the purpose in July last year. “I request that GAIL engage the members of urban women's self-help groups for installing gas connections and collecting bills after they are trained properly.”

Union minister Pradhan readily accepted CM Das’s proposal.

“Using CNG will be helpful for auto-rickshaw drivers and operators as they can save about Rs 3,000 on fuel cost every month that can be used for other purposes such as providing better education to their children,” Pradhan said. CNG, he said was a safe and environment-friendly fuel.

“The sale of petroleum products has grown by 15 per cent in Jharkhand, which is higher than the national average,' Pradhan said, adding that this indicated Jharkhand's economy had grown satisfactorily, particularly in rural areas.

He did not specify over what time period the growth in demand had happened.

Union minister Arjun Munda said: “It’s good that GAIL will supply piped gas to 3,000 households now, but they must work fast for expanding the network and covering more households soon.”

GAIL chairman cum managing director Ashutosh Karnataka said they are working in close cooperation with the state government.

About 5km from the venue, Awadhesh Singh’s home at quarter H-35 in Shyamali colony became the cynosure of all eyes. GAIL had decorated the quarters as they chose it for live streaming of a kitchen were piped gas was being supplied. The Telegraph had reported about the PNG testing at Awadesh Singh’s home in its edition on Thursday.

“I'm thankful to GAIL for supplying piped gas to our kitchen as we are now free from the worry of getting another cylinder when the one in use is exhausted,” said Urmila Singh.

“After live streaming, many, including from the press, started visiting our kitchen,” said an amused Awadesh Singh.