PM Modi dedicates 500 CNG-run boats to Nation, built by GAIL

Varanasi: In a far-reaching move to make the holy river Ganga pollution-free, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated 500 boats to the nation. These boats are converted to run on environment-friendly Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from petrol and diesel.

Also, these boats are being supplied CNG from India’s first floating CNG station built by GAIL (India) Limited at Namo Ghat here.

The conversion of the boats running on petrol/diesel to run on CNG also was carried out under GAIL’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in association with Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN). VNN appointed Varanasi Smart City as coordinator of the project while Mecon Limited is providing engineering and consultancy services for conversion of the boats to run on CNG.

Many of the boats present across the various ghats of river Ganga are used by tourists when they visit the holy city Varanasi. However, leakage and exhaust from conventional fuels is a major concern which affects the water quality and marine life of the river Ganga.

Conversion to CNG will not only reduce pollution but the resultant savings on fuel will lead to better economic condition of boatmen.

While 500 boats have been converted to CNG so far, work is going on at a fast pace to convert the other boats to the clean fuel too.