Rajasthan LPG Consumers Face Mandatory PNG Switch with 90-Day Deadline
In a significant move impacting household and commercial energy users across Rajasthan, state-run oil companies have initiated a mandatory transition program from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to piped natural gas (PNG) in areas where PNG infrastructure is available. The companies have begun issuing formal 90-day disconnection notices to LPG consumers, directing them to shift to PNG connections or face automatic withdrawal of their existing LPG supplies.
Government Directives Trigger Swift Implementation
The enforcement action commenced from Monday, following a Union government order and subsequent directions issued by district collectorates across Rajasthan last week. Under the established norms, all households and commercial establishments with access to PNG networks will be formally requested to migrate to the piped gas system. Failure to comply within the 90-day notice period will result in the cancellation of their LPG connections.
Officials confirmed that district administrations, in close consultation with city gas distributors (CGDs), have meticulously mapped eligible consumers and prepared comprehensive lists spanning the entire state. Rajasthan currently has 13 operational CGDs serving approximately 1.25 lakh PNG consumers, with infrastructure expanding rapidly.
Oil PSUs Execute Notices Statewide with Exceptions
"The district administrations have shared a detailed list of consumers across Rajasthan with us. We have systematically started issuing notices to these identified consumers," stated a senior official from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). Representatives from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) have also verified that similar notices are being dispatched from their respective organizations.
In parallel, oil public sector undertakings (PSUs) have begun cancelling LPG connections for consumers who already possess active PNG supply. However, officials highlighted a notable exception in the implementation process within Jaipur. The CGD operating in the capital city did not register consumers using Aadhaar during the initial connection issuance, creating significant challenges in accurately mapping users and delaying the notice rollout there.
Ambitious State Targets Drive Aggressive Timeline
A district official involved in the process revealed the ambitious targets set by the state government. "There are specific targets we need to fulfill within the next three months. For the entire state, the Rajasthan mines and petroleum department has established a goal of reaching five lakh PNG consumers within this timeframe. This essentially means we need to cancel the LPG connections of these five lakh consumers, more or less, within this stipulated period," the official explained.
Interestingly, oil PSU officials noted that new commercial LPG connections are still being processed even in areas with existing PNG infrastructure. However, applicants must now submit a formal undertaking stating they have already applied for a PNG connection, indicating a transitional phase rather than an immediate blanket ban.
The coordinated effort between district administrations, CGDs, and oil PSUs underscores a strategic push to enhance PNG penetration across Rajasthan, promoting cleaner fuel adoption while streamlining energy distribution networks. Consumers across the state are now on a strict 90-day clock to comply with the migration mandate or risk losing their LPG access entirely.
