The Centre is taking all necessary measures to provide liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to commercial customers, such as community kitchens and migrant workers, while maintaining supplies to domestic consumers.
According to Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, natural gas supply to domestic consumers and compressed natural gas (CNG) for transport is being met fully on priority.
Industrial and commercial consumers connected with the gas grid are getting 80% of the fuel they used to consume.
The government has advised city gas distribution (CGD) entities to prioritise commercial connections and has written to states on this matter, discussing an additional 10% gas allocation for the expansion of piped natural gas (PNG).
As a result of these efforts, approximately 3.5 lakh domestic and commercial PNG connections have been either installed or activated in the last three weeks.
Supply of LPG is still a matter of concern, but there is no dry out at any LPG distributorship, and delivery to consumers is normal.
Bookings have substantially reduced from about 8.8 million on March 13 to around 5 million now.
The government has proposed to give 10% additional LPG to state governments if they help in the expansion of the PNG network in their respective states.
So far, about 15,800 tonnes of commercial LPG has been uplifted, and the government is coordinating with states and union territories to ensure supply as per envisaged priority and check diversions, black marketing and hoarding.
Enforcement actions have been taken, including raids and the seizure of over 800 cylinders, and around 550 FIRs have been registered and about 150 people arrested.
