Patna: Patna could soon see CNG (compressed natural gas) filling stations to cater to people who want to opt for cleaner, environment-friendly fuel to run their automobiles.

A high-level meeting chaired by the chief secretary on March 23 will decide on providing space at two locations to Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) in the city, state tourism minister Santosh Kumar Nirala said in the Legislative Council.

Nirala was replying to a query raised by MLC Kedar Nath Pandey and added that the state government was considering "the proposal to provide 1.5 to 2 acres of land to GAIL at Phulwarisharif on the outskirts of Patna".

At present, Bihar has no CNG station, and the state government is keen on introducing CNG in Patna to cut down pollution and aid environment-friendly measures. It is also mulling incentives to popularise the use of vehicles that run on it, or also on batteries charged by electricity.

CNG is considered cheaper and cleaner energy source as 1kg compressed natural gas is priced around Rs 40. It gives vehicles better mileage than petrol or diesel.

CNG will be made available in Patna through the Haldia-Jagdishpur gas pipeline being laid by GAIL, which is nearing completion. The proposal to have CNG stations here has been hanging fire for the last several years.

Replying further to Kedar's query, Nirala added that the government was accepting that air pollution in Patna has increased several times. He pointed out that vehicular emissions were one of the reasons, though not the main reason behind it.

"PM2.5 (particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns thickness in size) is the main reason behind air pollution in Patna. It is more than the permissible limits and the situation aggravates during winter. Vehicular emissions are always within the permissible limits," the minister said.

GAIL has already identified five spots in Patna from where it will start providing CNG refilling services. All are on the outskirts of the city.

Various legislators came up with rejoinders over the matter, the issue of plying vehicles more than 15 years old and pollution because of them.

RJD MLC Subodh Kumar requested the transport minister to get the "city ride buses" checked as many of them were more than 15 years old and were spreading pollution unchecked. He also alleged that motor vehicle inspectors were permitting them to ply on roads in lieu of gratification.