Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
 
Mangalore, Jan 21: K N Prabhu, president of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)  and  G Giridhar Prabhu,  chairman of large and medium industries sub-committee in a letter addressed to the governor Rameshwar Thakur, have made a plea to prepare a comprehensive consumption plan for 20 million tonnes of natural gas by 2015.

Further in this letter, the copies of which were released to the media here, the governor has been urged to indicate the role of government in the consumption plan. Lauding the action taken by the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), of laying a gas pipeline from Dabhol to Bangalore, the KCCI declared that it would usher in the process of utilising natural gas in the state.  

Moreover there are plans on the anvil by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to set-up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) premises for import of 10 to 12 million tonnes of LNG a year. According to the KCCI this means that the scope for investment in natural gas handling at New Mangalore Port would be to the tune of 10 million tonnes, by sourcing gas from West Asia and Africa.  

Also they add, "The ONGC intends to lay a gas pipeline on Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore-Chennai route using the right-of-way available in Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore pipeline project. ONGC may propose to extend this pipeline for consumption of gas in other sectors.” The letter goes on to state that the investment in this facility would offer long-term advantages for business enterprises and the general populace of the state.