Modi government’s big step amid LPG crisis, instructions to states to immediately approve pending applications of PNG pipeline

News India Live, Digital Desk: Amidst the turmoil in the global energy market and the fear of supply disruption from the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian government now wants to accelerate the work of delivering piped gas (PNG) to homes.1. What instructions have been given to the state governments? Quick approval: The Petroleum Ministry has asked the states to dispose of all the applications (Right of Way – RoW) pending for laying the PNG pipeline and infrastructure development on priority basis. Removing the obstacles: It has been asked to eliminate the obstacles being put up by the local administration and municipal bodies so that the gas distribution companies (like IGL, MGL, Adani Gas) can provide connections to the houses faster.As an option PNG: The government believes that if more and more households are connected to PNG, the dependence on cylinder LPG will reduce, making supply management easier during times of crisis.2. New rules for LPG consumers (March 2026) To ensure the availability of LPG, the government has also implemented some strict rules: Cylinder surrender mandatory: Households that have reached PNG connection will have to surrender their domestic LPG cylinders immediately. Now they will not be able to maintain both the connections simultaneously. Booking interval: To prevent cylinder shortage and ‘panic booking’, a gap of 25 days between two cylinders has been made mandatory in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas. Curb on hoarding: States have been directed to take action under ESMA against hoarders and black marketers.3. Reason for the crisis and government’s assurance Reason: Due to increasing tension between Iran and Israel, LPG shipments coming through sea routes are getting delayed. Assurance: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Petroleum Ministry have clarified that there is sufficient stock of gas in the country and the refineries are working at 100% capacity. Citizens have been appealed not to make panic bookings.