Free gas up to Rs 500, zero security fee: Govt pushes PNG shift for households
India Today
The government's focus remains on maintaining supply and reducing dependence on imports, while ensuring households have access to reliable and affordable energy.
As tensions remain high in West Asia, the government is trying to keep things steady at home. It has rolled out a series of steps to ensure energy supplies remain smooth, while also pushing households to shift towards piped natural gas (PNG).
Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing and Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said steps are underway to boost PNG, with companies offering up to Rs 500 free gas and waiving security fees. The government is also encouraging households to shift from LPG to PNG wherever possible.
“Areas where PNG connections are available, such consumers will be intimated through a registered post. LPG consumers will be given 3 months window to shift to PNG,” Sharma said.
She explained the reason behind this push.
"Our import dependency of LPG is much higher compared to PNG. Hence, it is more logical to shift to PNG wherever possible."
So far, around 2.2 lakh consumers have already shifted from LPG to PNG. To make things easier, road restoration charges in Delhi have been waived, and pipelines can now be laid round the clock.
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