From booking to transfer of LPG cylinder, the government has changed these big rules, know otherwise…

New Delhi. War has once again broken out between Iran and America. Amidst this environment, the Indian government is in action mode. Recently, the government has directed the public sector petroleum marketing companies to prepare enough storage of LPG (cooking gas) to meet the demand for at least 30 days. After the tension that started last March, the government has also made changes in many rules related to LPG cylinders. Let us know the details.

What are the new rules
Under the new rules, families who already have a PNG connection may have to surrender their LPG connection. Oil marketing companies (OMCs) have started identifying households that are using both PNG and LPG at the same time to prevent misuse, hoarding and black marketing of domestic cylinders. Having both connections at the same address is being considered a prohibited activity under the new LPG rules. If people who have PNG infrastructure in their area do not switch to PNG within the stipulated time frame, their LPG supply may be stopped or automatically cancelled.

LPG Connection Transfer Voucher
The Central Government has given the option of transfer voucher to the customers with PNG connection on deposit of LPG cylinder, which will enable them to retain their LPG connection if they move to a non-PNG area in future. Customers with PNG connections have been given the option of quitting the LPG connection within 30 days of getting the PNG connection or availing a transfer voucher for taking a future LPG connection in a non-PNG area.

This amendment will provide considerable relief to consumers who may in future relocate to areas where PNG infrastructure is not available. This will be particularly beneficial for those with frequent job transfers, migrant families, tenants, students and/or families relocating to non-PNG areas.

In the previous order, the government had ordered customers having both PNG and LPG connections to immediately leave their LPG connections. There was no option given to reserve the connection for future through a facility like transfer voucher. For this reason many such people were hesitant in depositing LPG cylinders. People feared that in order to get a new connection, they would have to face trouble and pay increased charges.

refill ban
Families whose PNG pipeline has been found operational are being stopped from booking or refilling domestic LPG cylinders. City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies and OMCs have now completely integrated their digital databases. At the same time, to prevent shortage of supply and misuse, the lock-in period of LPG refill has been increased from 21 days to 25 days for urban users and to 45 days for rural users.