The Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi has initiated steps to speed up work on the remaining part of the city’s gas distribution network project.

“I held a review meeting with Bhagyanagar Gas yesterday to chalk out steps for speedy completion of the remaining part of the project,” she told Business Line on the sidelines of an event today.

Bhagyanagar Gas Ltd, a venture of HPCL and GAIL, has already commissioned phase one of the project in Greater Hyderabad by commissioning supplies in and around Shamirpet area on the city outskirts. However, there has been some delay in completing the entire project due to non-availability of gas and other roadblocks.

On LPG subsidy, the Minister made it clear that not having Aadhaar card will not hamper transfer of subsidy to consumers. “Till consumers get their Aadhaar numbers, they could submit an alternative identity proof to get their subsidy cash transfer,” she said.

Panabaka Lakshmi, earlier, inaugurated ‘Colours of Rajasthan’, a Rajasthani handloom exhibition, jointly organised by FICCI and Rajasthan State Handloom Development Corporation.

More than 30 artisans from Rajasthan are exhibiting their products during the five-day exhibition, featuring products such as kota doria, zari sarees, dyed yarn dress material, cotton khes and designer bed covers.

The focus of the exhibition will also be to encourage and demonstrate the artifacts and products developed by small and medium industry, self-help groups and languishing arts craftsmen, the Minister said.

>amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

Published on February 20, 2013