After LPG Cylinders, Piped Gas to Reach Every Household; Target Set for 12.5 Cr Connections by 2030

The central government launched the PM Ujjwala Yojana in 2016 for clean cooking fuel. The aim was to ensure gas connections in rural and deprived households, but it is now time to supply piped gas in every household.

The Ujjwala scheme has reached 10.27 crore beneficiaries. Now, piped gas supply will provide regular and uninterrupted access to clean cooking energy. The aim is to have 12.5 crore piped natural gas (PNG) connections by 2030 in rural and urban areas.

According to official data, as of March, there are a total of 1.21 crore domestic PNG connections in the country. As of January, at least 10,000 km of gas pipeline has been laid. These numbers are a significant improvement from 2014 when about 25 lakh households had piped gas and, that too, mostly in urban areas.

What is the need for piped gas?

In India, the poor have limited access to clean cooking gas. This is not only harmful to those cooking but also the environment as it involves the burning of coal, wood and cow dung.

The LPG cylinders, until a few years ago, were only limited to urban and semi-urban areas among the better income class.

Piped gas is convenient as there will be no need to handle, refill and change cylinders. It will also be more economical as it reduces transportation costs apart from being safer. It can be consistently supplied and there is no hassle over gas running out at odd hours.

What is the plan?

Providing PNG connections is part of the development of the city gas distribution network, which is carried out by the entities authorised as per the minimum work programme (MWP) targets provided by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and techno-commercial feasibility.

As of May 2023, 300 geographical areas covering about 98 per cent of the population and 88 per cent of total geographical area spread over around 630 districts in 28 states/UTs, including rural areas, have been authorised by PNGRB.

Authorised entities have to provide about 12.5 crore PNG connections by 2030, including in rural and urban areas, as per the MWP target. The entities also supply natural gas to customers, including entrepreneurs in the industrial and commercial sectors, as per the demand and techno-commercial viability.

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