**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4645, posed on August 21, 2025, regarding the potential establishment of a new gas agency in Chhattisgarh, specifically on the AndaFunda main road near villages Chirpoti, Risama, and Machandur in Durg district. Shri Vijay Baghel inquired about a proposal under general, Other Backward Classes, or women categories by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) due to the absence of a gas agency within a 10-kilometer radius and the area's high population density.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Suresh Gopi, responded that the appointment of LPG distributorships by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) adheres to the Unified Selection Guidelines (USG), 2016, which dictates the identification and advertisement of suitable locations. Currently, the LPG demand in Risama, Machandur, and Chirpoti is being met by three IOCL distributors and one BPCL distributor operating within a 15-kilometer radius.
A feasibility study was conducted by OMCs in October 2024 for a distributorship in Risama. However, the study concluded that establishing a new LPG distributorship was not feasible under the USG, as the existing distributors' combined monthly ceiling exceeds the current market demand in these locations.
Key Entities Referenced
Chhattisgarh: State in India where the proposed gas agency is to be set up.
Shri Vijay Baghel: Member of Parliament who raised the question about setting up a new gas agency.
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS: Ministry responsible for decisions regarding gas agencies.
AndaFunda main road: Proposed location for the new gas agency.
Chirpoti, Durg, Chhattisgarh: Village and district near the proposed gas agency location.
Durg Lok Sabha Constituency: Parliamentary constituency where the villages Risama, Machandur and Chirpoti are located.
SHRI SURESH GOPI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas who provided the answer.
Unified Selection Guidelines USG, 2016: Guidelines used by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for appointment of LPG distributorships.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4645
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21st August, 2025
Setting up of New Gas Agency in Chhattisgarh
†4645. Shri Vijay Baghel
पे(cid:282)ो(cid:871)लयम एवं (cid:292)ाकृ(cid:467)तक गैस मं(cid:287)ी
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) whether there is any proposal to decide a location on the Anda-Funda main road from the
railway crossing towards village Chirpoti, Tehsil and District Durg (Chhattisgarh) for setting up
a new gas agency under the general, Other Backward Classes or women category by Indian Oil
Corporation, considering that no gas agency is operating within a 10 kilometre radius of villages
Risama, Machandur and Chirpoti under Durg Lok Sabha Constituency and the region has a high
population density and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) if not, the reasons therefor and the time by which such a proposal is likely to be initiated?
ANSWER
पे(cid:282)ो(cid:871)लयम एवं (cid:292)ाकृ(cid:467)तक गैस मं(cid:287)ालय म(cid:581) रा(cid:207)यमं(cid:287)ी
((cid:302)ी सुरेश गोपी)
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a) and (b): Appointment of LPG distributorships by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies
(OMCs) is done as per Unified Selection Guidelines (USG), 2016 and locations for setting up of
LPG distributorships are identified and advertised accordingly.
The present LPG demand of the villages Risama, Machandur, and Chirpoti in District Durg,
Chhattisgarh is currently met by three Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) distributors and
one Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) distributor operating within a 15-kilometer
radius.
In October, 2024, a feasibility study for a LPG distributorship for Risama was carried out by
OMCs. At present, LPG demand of the Market is less than the monthly combined ceiling of
existing distributors serving these locations. Hence, the locations were not found feasible for
setting up of new LPG distributorship as per USG.
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