Over 50% of CNG outlets in Nashik run dry due to supply disruptions

Nashik: CNG outlets in Nashik are facing a severe shortage amid supply disruptions. More than 50% of the CNG pumps in the city and district went dry on Thursday due to an inadequate supply.
The Nashik District Petrol Dealers' Welfare Association (NDPDWA) has urged the Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL) to provide an adequate supply to the CNG outlets in Nashik. The association has also given an ultimatum of eight days, or else, they have warned to stop the sale of CNG in the district from April 26.
These CNG outlets receive supply from MNGL through its CNG plant at Vilholi on the outskirts of the city, where they convert liquified natural gas (LNG) into compressed natural gas (CNG).
"Supply of CNG to the CNG outlets in the district has been disrupted for the past three to four weeks. We requested MNGL to provide an adequate supply, but in vain. We have given an ultimatum of eight days to MNGL to ensure supply for at least 10 hours. If the supply of CNG is not improved, we will stop the sale of compressed gas from April 26," said Vijay Thakre, the president of NDPDWA.
There are around 50 CNG pumps in the Nashik district, including 15 in the city. More than 50% of the CNG pumps went dry on Thursday. At present, MNGL is supplying CNG through tankers, each with a capacity of 400kg. Each outlet needs at least six CNG tankers, but they have been getting only one or two tankers. Consequently, the CNG pumps have been going dry within one or two hours, said Tehsin Khan, the vice-president of NDPDWA.
"I have a CNG outlet that went dry in the morning. There was a long queue, and consumers had to go back. Sometimes it becomes difficult to convince the consumers if they don't get the CNG even after waiting in a queue for hours. Hence, we want MNGL to provide adequate supply to all the outlets in the district," said Tehsin Khan.
When contacted, MNGL officials said they are making efforts to meet the requirement in the Nashik district. There were issues related to LNG, and the supply of CNG will be restored to normalcy shortly, they said.