CNG all set to replace LPG in Golden Temple kitchen

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 20

A smart concept of cooking would be a reality at Golden Temple kitchen as the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is all set to replace the existing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and wood as cooking fuel.

Under the Union Government’s Smart City project, the Gujarat State Patroleum Corporation has been entrusted with the task of providing CNG through underground pipeline. The Rs 500 crore project will also cater to the domestic CNG supply.

In the first phase, the CNG pipeline has to cover the 4.5-km stretch of the Sultanwind road, catering to Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee Langar Hall. Besides, work is also under way for laying the underground pipeline on the 8-km stretch on Majitha road where a CNG filling station too has been built. Similarly, the pipe is being placed near Rattan Singh Chowk leading to the Cantonment area.

MC Commissioner Sonali Giri said approval for 13-km area was given. “At present, the requisite pipeline has been laid in 7 km of area and 6 km is still to be done. The major work has been done in the Golden Temple area, at least 95 per cent. We expect to supply the CNG supply to the shrine kitchen by March 31,” she said.

It will not only help curb pollution but also curtail the langar preparation cost if the high cost of LPG cylinders is any indication. On an average, 100 LPG cylinders are used to prepare langar for nearly 60,000 people daily at Golden Temple. This figure increases to 125 cylinders on special occasions, like Diwali, gurpurbs and sangrandh, etc.

SGPC chief secretary Dr Roop Singh said the introduction of the CNG would be cost effective, efficient and curtail the use of wooden logs which are being used partially as cooking fuel, thereby controlling the pollution.

Once, the biogas plant is installed, the officials viewed that there would be negligible necessity of logs, which cause pollution.

Talking about the economic front, Dr Singh said the use of LPG cylinders which are charged on commercial rates, too would be minimised.

The gurdwaras used to get subsidised LPG cylinders at the rate of Rs 422 each, but for the past few years this subsidy was withdrawn ending up escalating the cylinder cost to Rs 1,086 each.

“On an average, at least 100 LPG cylinders and 50-60 quintal of wood is consumed daily to ignite the kitchen of Golden Temple. The CNG would definitely be economical in comparison. We will get special concession from the firm too,” he added.

Within two years’ span, the domestic and commercial connections will also be made available. As per an official estimate, the domestic connections will be provided to 25,000 households initially.