Opening of Kota-Jobner Pipeline and Jobner Terminal of BPCL

Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje has said that Rajasthan has become the biggest on-land oil and gas producing region of the country. Now, efforts are being made to establish a refinery very soon so that the state can get full benefit of its resources. She requested the Union Minister of State for Petroleum Shri Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure supply of domestic gas through pipeline in the cities selected to be developed as smart cities.

Smt. Raje was addessing a gathering on the occasion of dedicating Kota-Jobner Multi-product Pipeline and Jobner Terminal to the nation on Friday at Jobner near Jaipur. The CM said that she was prompt to respond on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call to give-up gas subsidy through ‘Give-It-Up’ and ‘Give-It-Back’ campaigns. She said that it was good to learn that this subsidy was being directed the the BPL families.

The Chief Minister said that the condition of roads in the state was pathetic, but now Rajasthan is the second state in terms of construction or renewal of the National Highways. She said that the Gramin Gaurav Paths would resolve the issue of rural women. In Jaipur Rural region, of total 111 sanctioned Gramin Gaurav Paths, about 85 had been completed and the work on missing links was also on the full pace, she added.

Highlighting the issue of repeated snags in the plastic pipeline for drinking water supply in Asalpur area of Jobner, Smt. Raje requested the Union Minister of State Shri Pradhan to support laying of a new GI pipeline for water supply. She further requested for CSR and other funds for construction on an ROB in this region.

The Union Minister of State Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that the state was progressing ahead and attaining new heights of development. People from all over the world were reaching the state for investment. Such possibilities gained momentum during the recently convened Resurgent Rajasthan Partnership Summit. He said that the state was enabling itself in the leadership of Smt. Raje despite challenging financial situation.

On the CM’s demand, the Union Minister assured for supply of domestic gas through pipeline in the cities of Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota and Udaipur selected to be developed as smart cities. He said that this facility would be made available soon in Kota. He assured that the state would be extended full benefits of CSR funds.

The Minister said that the Union Government and particularly the Petroleum Department would give entire benfits to the Rajasthan. He said on certain occasions Rajasthan used to face shortage of petroleum supplies, but operationalization of new Terminal at Jobner would resolve this problem. Very soon, the IOC would also start a new terminal in Jaipur district, he added.

Shri Pradhan said that there were 27 crore households in the country, of which 16 crore households were having the LPG connection facility. He appealed the well-off families to give-up the gas subsidy so that the remaining households could be extend the facility of domestic gas connection and the poor could be benefited. He said that about 5 lakh women were loosing life battle every year. These lives could be saved by giving them the gas connections, the Minister said.

Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Colonel(Retd) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the CM had created an atmosphere conducive for investment in the state. Following this, he said, new big companies would invest here, which would result in strengthening of infrastructure and expansion of development.

State Minister of Urban Housing and Development Shri Rajpal Singh Shekhawat said that the setting-up of Terminal at Jobner would reduce cost of transportation of petroleum products and domestic gas in Rajasthan and increase their availability as well. This would further support the progress of this region of the state, he said.

Local MLA Shri Premchand Bairwa also addressed the gathering. Secretary to the Union Petroleum Minister Shri Kapil Dev Tripathi shared the detailed information about the Terminal. Prior to this, Managing Director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation gave in the welcome address.

On demand supply of petroleum products would be ensured in the districts of Jaipur, Ajmer, Sikar, Jhunjhunun, Churu and Sawai Mahopur through the facilities of Kota-Jobner Multi-product Pipeline and Jobner Terminal of Bharat Petroleum. Estbalishment costs of these two facilities would be rupees 276 crore and 145 crore respectively.

Jaipur, December 4, 2015