New Delhi, 15 March (H.S.): Amid the West Asia crisis, the central government has prohibited households with Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections from retaining or acquiring subsidized Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections.The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas amended the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Supply and Distribution Regulation) Order-2000 via a March 14 notification under the Essential Commodities Act, mandating PNG users to surrender domestic LPG links immediately.

Public sector oil firms must deny refills to such consumers in exchange for empties, prioritizing supply for homes lacking piped access.The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) urged city gas distributors to accelerate PNG network expansion in pipeline-ready areas to alleviate LPG strain, as India imports 88% of crude oil, 50% of natural gas, and 60% of LPG—much from Saudi Arabia and UAE—disrupted since the February 28 US-Israel strikes on Iran and its reprisals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar