If you also have LPG connection in your house, then this news is very useful for you. The Central Government has taken a major step towards rapidly increasing the access and use of piped natural gas (PNG) in households across the country. Under the government scheme, states and union territories have been asked to appoint nodal officers at the district level. These officers will coordinate with the gas distribution companies and petroleum marketing companies in the city and help in connecting all those households with piped cooking gas where pipeline facilities have been made available.
LPG cylinder may be closed after getting PNG!
The government is now preparing to take strict action in those areas where PNG facilities already exist. Under the new plan, there will be a ban on having both LPG and PNG connections simultaneously in the same house. According to the new rules, if a pipeline has been laid in an area and a consumer does not apply for a PNG connection even after receiving the notice, then the supply of his LPG cylinder can be stopped.
To accelerate the spread of PNG, the government has officially notified the new LPG Control Order under 'Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order 2026' and Section 3 of the 'Essential Commodities Act, 1955'.
PNG coordination committees will be formed
To implement this new system properly, 'PNG Coordination Committee' (PCC) will be formed in every area. This committee will identify residential societies and eligible houses where the pipeline can be delivered. After this, notices will be given to consumers and special camps will be organized to spread awareness among them and release new connections.
The government clearly believes that increasing the scope of PNG will reduce the country's dependence on LPG cylinders for cooking. With this, India's energy supply will remain secure despite any international crisis or disruptions in maritime transportation.
Steps taken by learning lessons from international crisis
This decision of the government has come at a time when LPG supply was affected due to tension and conflict in West Asia this year. India imports a large part of its domestic LPG requirement from abroad, which comes into the country through sea routes. During that crisis, the government had to work hard to maintain the domestic LPG supply.
In contrast, the global crisis had no significant impact on domestic PNG supplies through pipelines. The main reason for this is that natural gas produced in India is given to the domestic PNG sector on priority basis. In view of this experience, the Central Government has asked all the states to take this matter on priority so that PNG can be promoted across the country in a time bound manner.