The government is identifying households having both LPG and PNG connections to prevent misuse of LPG subsidy and ensure supply to eligible consumers. In a notification issued on March 14 under the Essential Commodities Act (ESMA), the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had amended the LPG Supply and Distribution Order, 2000, restricting the consumers having PNG connections from having domestic LPG connections or filling it.
Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, said on Thursday that consumers having Dabar gas connections are being assessed. Till now, more than 43,000 such consumers have surrendered their LPG connections. He said, ‘Although this number is less than expected. We expect this figure to be higher.
Have to surrender a connection
According to the new order, consumers having PNG connections will have to surrender their domestic LPG connections immediately. Apart from this, PNG connection holders have also been banned from taking new LPG connections. Along with this, government oil companies and their distributors have been prohibited from providing LPG connections or filling cylinders to such consumers.
This is the aim of the government
This step has been taken with the aim of giving priority to LPG supply to those households which do not have the facility of piped cooking gas (PNG). Amid global pressure on energy supply due to the West Asian conflict, India is having to readjust its gas allocation. India imports about 88 percent of its crude oil, 50 percent natural gas and 60 percent LPG requirement. In the current situation, the government has also banned the issuance of new LPG connections.
