The Centre has asked states and Union Territories to appoint district-level nodal officers to help accelerate the shift of households from LPG to piped natural gas (PNG) in areas where the network is available.
In an August 21 letter to state chief secretaries, Petroleum Secretary Neeraj Mittal said district-level administrative support was essential for coordinating between city gas distribution (CGD) entities, oil marketing companies (OMCs) and consumers.
"PNG brings a safer, cleaner and more efficient cooking fuel, playing a critical role in advancing the country's energy transition objectives. Its accelerated adoption contributes to reducing the logistics burden associated with LPG distribution, enhancing consumer convenience, and improving utilisation of CGD infrastructure created through substantial public and private investment," Mittal said in the letter.
The move comes after the government notified a regulatory framework aimed at preventing households from retaining both LPG and PNG connections where piped gas is available. Under the new orders, households that fail to apply for a PNG connection despite due notice could have their LPG supply discontinued.
The government has also directed authorised CGD entities and public-sector OMCs to set up PNG Coordination Committees (PCCs) in every geographical area. The committees will identify eligible households and housing societies, issue notices and organise outreach camps to facilitate PNG connections.
According to the Petroleum Ministry, the PCC mechanism is already operational, but its experience has shown that district-level intervention is needed to complete the transition within prescribed timelines.
District administrations will assist in securing right of way or right of use from housing societies and resident welfare associations, facilitate coordination between LPG distributors and CGD companies, support consumer verification and outreach, and address grievances.
They may also assist designated officers in exercising powers under the LPG control orders where access to non-public premises is denied.
The ministry has suggested that state food and civil supplies departments provide the administrative support, citing their existing regulatory links with LPG distributors and field-level reach.
Mittal has asked states and UTs to nominate one district-level officer, not below the rank of district supply officer, to work with the local PCCs. They have also been asked to share the officers' names, designations and contact details at the earliest.
The push for PNG adoption follows disruptions to India's LPG supply chains during the West Asia crisis earlier this year. The government had to prioritise domestic LPG supplies after disruptions affected imports, prompting restrictions on some commercial and industrial consumers.
The episode highlighted the relative resilience of domestic PNG supplies, which receive priority allocation of domestically produced natural gas. The government is now seeking to expand household PNG connections and city gas infrastructure to reduce dependence on imported LPG and strengthen energy security.
The ministry has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Orders of 2026 and LPG Control Orders under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to support the transition.
The Centre has asked states to accord priority to the exercise as it seeks to expand PNG adoption in a time-bound manner.
(With inputs from PTI)
