Centre Pushes States to Speed Up LPG-to-PNG Shift

New Delhi, Aug 23: The Centre has asked states and Union Territories to appoint district-level nodal officers to accelerate the shift of households from LPG to piped natural gas (PNG) in areas where piped gas is available, citing the need for a faster and more coordinated transition.

In an August 21 letter to state chief secretaries, Petroleum Secretary Neeraj Mittal said PNG offered a safer, cleaner and more efficient cooking fuel option while reducing the logistics burden associated with LPG distribution and improving utilisation of city gas distribution infrastructure.

The Petroleum Ministry has sought the appointment of one nodal officer at the district level, not below the rank of district supply officer, to coordinate with authorised city gas distribution (CGD) entities and public-sector oil marketing companies.

The move follows the government’s regulatory framework aimed at preventing households from retaining both LPG and PNG connections where piped gas is available. Under the notified orders, households may be required to discontinue LPG supply if they fail to apply for a PNG connection after due notice.

The ministry has directed CGD entities and oil marketing companies to establish PNG Coordination Committees in every geographical area. These committees will identify eligible households, issue statutory notices, organise outreach programmes and facilitate new PNG connections.

District administrations will assist in securing access from resident welfare associations and housing societies, coordinating between LPG distributors and CGD entities, addressing consumer grievances and monitoring PNG adoption.

The ministry said district-level administrative support had become important to implement the transition within prescribed timelines. Officials of Food and Civil Supplies departments have been identified as suitable for the role because of their existing regulatory interface with LPG distributors and field-level reach.

The push gained importance after disruptions to LPG supply chains during the West Asia crisis earlier this year exposed India’s dependence on imported cooking gas. Domestic PNG supplies, which received priority allocation of domestically produced natural gas, remained comparatively resilient.

States and UTs have been asked to submit details of nominated officers at the earliest to facilitate coordination and speed up PNG expansion. (Agencies)