Parliament Question: Promotion of LPG Usages

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3050 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7th August, 2025 Promotion of LPG Usages 3050. Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab: Smt. Sandhya Ray: Shri Mukesh Rajput: Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara: Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat: Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya: Shri Kanwar Singh Tanwar: Dr. Bhola Singh पे(cid:7069)ोिलयम एवं (cid:7079)ाकृितक गसै मं(cid:7074)ी Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to promote LPG usage in urban slums of the country including Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh to increase access to clean cooking energy and improve air quality; (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) the control and inspection mechanism adopted by the Government to ensure compliance with safety standards such as seal testing, piping and leak detection etc., while issuing newly LPG connections in such areas; (d) the manner in which the Government is ensuring compliance with safety protocols while installing LPG connections especially urban slums of the country especially in Cuttack and in tribal dominated areas like Palgahr district; (e) the schemes driven by the Government like PMUY for the safety of LPG consumers and to increase the utilization of the clean fuel in place of traditional fuels in rural India including Cuttack; (f) whether the Government has given some relaxations to provide the LPG connection/availability to migrant workers/temporary residents at one place; and (g) if so, the details thereof along with the initiatives taken in this direction? ANSWER पे(cid:7069)ोिलयम एवं (cid:7079)ाकृितक गसै मं(cid:7074)ालय म(cid:7286) रा(cid:6996)यम(cid:7074)ं ी ((cid:7088)ी सरु ेश गोपी) MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI) (a) & (b): Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May, 2016 to provide deposit free LPG connection to adult women from poor households across the country includingin urban slums. The primary objective of the PMUY is to provide access to clean cooking fuel LPG to such poor households including in urban slums thereby protecting their health by reducing the serious health hazards associated with use of conventional cooking fuel such as firewood, coal, cow dung etc. which cause severe indoor household air pollution. Use of LPG as cooking fuel frees women from the drudgery of collecting firewood, reduces time spent on cooking and prevents deforestation. As on 01.07.2025, there are about 10.33 crore PMUY connections across the country including 3.50 lakh connections in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh . Further, as a result of various steps taken by Government to improve access and affordability of domestic LPG for PMUY consumers, per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries (in terms of no. of 14.2 kg LPG cylinders taken per year) has increased from 3.68 (FY 2021-22) to 4.47 in FY 2024-25. OMCs have also very significantly improved the distribution infrastructure for domestic LPG. As of July 01, 2025, there are a total of 25,573 LPG distributorships across the country, out of which 17,646 are serving rural areas. These are served through 213 LPG bottling plant of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) located across the country. Out of 7997 distributorships commissioned during 01.04.2016 to 30.06.2025 across the country, 7403 (i.e. 93 %) [Rurban- 1033, Gramin- 4991, Durgam Kshetriya Vitraks and Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitrak (DKV+RGGLV) - 1379] are catering to rural areas. (c) & (d): Field Inspections and Checks- To ensure compliance and curb malpractices, both Regular and Surprise Inspections of LPG distributors are conduct by field officers of OMCs across the country including Cuttack and Palghar district. Further, officers from Anti Adulteration Cell/ Quality Reassurance Cells and Vigilance Department of the OMCs also conduct random checks at Distributors’ Godown/ Showroom/delivery points, as well as en-route to ensure that no misuse of LPG takes place. Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are under directions to ensure that LPG connections are released after satisfying and meeting all the safety norms stipulated for installation of LPG connections. Provisions, norms and steps taken to ensure compliance with safety standards while providing connections in all areas including urban slums and tribal dominated area are as under:(i) Supply of a laminated safety card with pictorial depictions of do’s and don’ts related to LPG connection to every PMUY beneficiary at the time of releasing LPG connections. (ii) Installation of LPG connection at premises of the customer by a trained mechanic. (iii) Organisation of Safety Clinics by distributor to spread awareness about safety aspects of LPG. (iv) Dedicated round the clock helpline number (1906) for immediate action in case of LPG leakage complaints. (v) Organisation of mass awareness programs on safe usage of LPG through audio- video/print media, banners/hoardings, leaflets, pamphlets, etc. (vi) Organisation of Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayats in villages to spread awareness about safe and sustained usage of LPG amongst PMUY beneficiaries. (vii) Grant of approval for manufacturing units of LPG cylinders, valves and LPG regulators and design of these equipments, licensing of storage premises, cylinder testing and filling etc. is regulated under Gas Cylinder Rules 2016. (viii) Safe usage of LPG cylinders by Domestic LPG consumers, including PMUY beneficiaries are governed under Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order 2000. (ix) LPG cylinders are periodically tested for safety as per norms of the Chief Controller of Explosives, Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO). (e): A Basic Safety Campaign was organised during March, 2024 to December, 2024 including in urban slums under the theme “Khushiyan Ab Teen Guna” with the objective of reaching the doorsteps of domestic LPG customers. The campaign was designed to educate consumers on the safe usage of LPG, complemented by extensive mass awareness initiatives through print and electronic media, on-site safety checks at customer premises, and the replacement of Suraksha hoses. The campaign achieved significant progress with over 12.12 crore free basic safety checks conducted at customer premises without any cost to consumer and more than 4.65 crore LPG hoses replaced at discounted rates. Additionally, audio-visual (AV) materials were utilized during various field safety initiatives, such as LPG Panchayats and LPG Safety Clinics in schools, as well as for general public outreach. These AVs were also shared across social media platforms to maximize reach and impact.(f) & (g): To promote LPG uptake under PMUY in urban slums, under Ujjwala 2.0 a special provision has been made for migrant families who can submit a self-declaration instead of Proof of Address and Ration Card to apply for a PMUY connection. Since August 2021, under Ujjwala 2.0 more than 10 lakh connections have been given using provision for migrants. Details of number of PMUY Connections, number of domestic LPG consumers, per captia consumption for PMUY and Non-PMUY, number of basic safety checks carried out and hoses replaced during Basic Safety Campaign in Cuttack and Palghar are at Annexure-A. To make LPG more affordable to PMUY consumers and ensure sustained usage of LPG by them, Government is providing started a targeted subsidy of Rs.300 per 14.2 Kg cylinder (and proportionately prorated for 5 Kg cylinder). After a targeted subsidy of Rs. 300/cylinder to PMUY consumers, Government of India is providing 14.2 Kg LPG cylinders at an effective price of Rs.553 per cylinder (in Delhi). This is available to more than 10.33 crore Ujjwala beneficiaries, across the country. *******Annexure-A Annexure referred to in part (f) & (g) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3050 to be answered on 07.08.2025 regarding “Promotion of LPG Usages”. Details for Cuttack and Palghar as on 01.07.2025 Details Cuttack Palghar 1 Number of domestic LPG Connections 7.03 lakh 11.02 lakh 2 Number of PMUY Connections 2.87 lakh 1.22 lakh 3 Number of Basic Safety Checks conducted 3.02 lakh 3.84 lakh 4 Number of Hose replaced 1.39 lakh 1. 52 lakh Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCs