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Title: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas laid a statement regarding status of implementation of recommendations in First Report of Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas on Demands for Grants (2009-10), pertaining to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA): Madam, I beg to lay the Statement on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the 1st Report of the Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas (15th Lok Sabha) in pursuance of directions of the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha vide Lok Sabha Bulletin- part II dated September 01, 2004.
The First Report of the Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas (15th Lok Sabha) was presented to the Lok Sabha on 21.12.2009. The Report relates to the examination of Demands for Grants of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for the year 2009-10. Action Taken Statements on the recommendations/observations contained in the Report of the Committee had been sent to the Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas on 16.3.2010.
There are 29 recommendations made by the Committee in the said Report where action is called for on the part of the Government. These recommendations mainly pertain to issues like full utilization of Budget, setting up of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, availability of rigs for exploratory drilling, realistic targets for exploratory works, timely commissioning of Paradip refinery, achieving crude oil production targets, strengthening of Directorate General of Hydrocarbon, development of alternate sources of fuel, according infrastructure status to hydrocarbon industry, taking steps to attract adequate response from domestic and foreign companies under New Exploration Licencing Policy, increased allocation for Research & Development activities, taking up projects in areas like development of shale gas and gas hydrate resources, conversion of coal to liquid, creation of Price Stabilization Fund, compliance of environmental norms by Refineries, Bio-fuels, year-wise action plan for CNG/PNG network, Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitrak Yojana, curbing of adulteration and automation of Retail Outlets, setting up of Strategic Storage facilities, restructuring of Biecco Lawrie Limited, etc.
Present status of implementation of various recommendations made by the Committee is indicated in the Annexure to the Statement, which is laid on the Table of the House. I would not like to take the valuable time of the House by reading out all the contents of this Annexure. This may please be considered as read.