Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Centre Asks States for Officers to Speed LPG-to-PNG Shift
The government wants more homes to use piped natural gas, called PNG, for cooking.
It has asked every district to appoint an officer to help make this happen.
The officer will work with gas companies, LPG distributors, housing groups and families.
The plan applies only in places where PNG pipelines are available.
Households in those areas generally would not be allowed to keep both LPG and PNG connections.
The government says PNG can be safer, cleaner and easier to supply.
It also says household PNG supplies were less affected than LPG during a recent West Asia crisis.
The goal is to reduce the need to transport LPG cylinders and use gas-pipeline infrastructure more fully.
The Petroleum Ministry has asked states and Union Territories to appoint district-level nodal officers to accelerate household adoption of piped natural gas.
The proposed framework would prevent households from retaining both LPG and PNG connections where piped gas is available.
District officers would coordinate with city gas distributors, oil companies, housing societies and consumers on the transition.
The ministry said domestic PNG supplies were more resilient than LPG during disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis.
Each nominated officer must be at least the rank of district supply officer, with states and UTs asked to submit their details promptly.
- Who
- The Petroleum Ministry, state and Union Territory administrations, city gas distributors, public-sector oil marketing companies, housing societies and households.
- What
- The ministry has asked states and Union Territories to appoint district-level nodal officers to support the shift from LPG to PNG.
- When
- Petroleum Secretary Neeraj Mittal sent the request in an August 21 letter; the reports were published on August 23.
- Where
- Across India, in districts and geographical areas where piped natural gas is available.
- Why
- The ministry says the transition can reduce LPG-distribution logistics, improve consumer convenience, use city-gas infrastructure more fully and strengthen energy resilience after LPG-supply disruptions.
- Nodal officer
- Each district should nominate an officer from the food and civil supplies department.
- Minimum rank
- The officer must be at least the rank of district supply officer.
- Connection rule
- Households would not be allowed to retain simultaneous LPG and PNG connections where PNG is available.
- PNG committees
- Authorised city gas distributors and public-sector oil marketing companies must establish a PNG Coordination Committee in every geographical area.
- Committee duties
- Committees will identify eligible households, issue notices, conduct outreach camps and accelerate PNG connections.
- District responsibilities
- District administrations will assist with access permissions, distributor transitions, consumer verification, monitoring and grievance resolution.
- Supply rationale
- The ministry said domestic PNG received priority access to domestically produced gas and was largely insulated from disruptions affecting imported LPG and LNG cargoes.
