Lok Sabha Question No. 2730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-16
Subject: Accidents involving LPG Cylinders
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Saikia Dilip, Sunil Kumar Singh, Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  MARCH, 2023 ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LPG CYLINDERS

## 2730.   SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

## पेोलयम एवं ाक ृतक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of  PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any assessment of incidence of accidents involving LPG cylinders;
- (b) if so, the number of such accidents occurred during the last five years and the current year, company-wise;
- (c)  whether  any  safety  measures  have  been  devised/developed  to  prevent  such  accidents  and leakage in gas pipes and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  introduce  such  State-of-the-art  technology  to  avoid cases of LPG cylinder accidents;
- (e) whether there is any provision to give accident insurance up to fifty lakhs on accidents caused by LPG cylinders in homes; and
- (f) if so, the number of people who have been given insurance amount so far for accidents caused due to LPG cylinders?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम एवं ाक ृतक गैस मंालय म रायमंी ( ी रामेवर तेल ) MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b) All reported accidents involving LPG are investigated by Public Sector Marketing Companies(OMCs)  and  after  a  detailed  analysis,  possible  reasons  for  the  accidents  are ascertained. Year-wise details of accidents found to have occurred due to reasons attributed to LPG during the last five years and the current year are as under:

| Year                     |   IOC |   BPC |   HPC |   OMCs |
|--------------------------|-------|-------|-------|--------|
| 2017-18                  |   618 |   186 |   347 |   1151 |
| 2018-19                  |   445 |   196 |   342 |    983 |
| 2019-20                  |   387 |   200 |   238 |    825 |
| 2020-21                  |   556 |   216 |   247 |   1019 |
| 2021-22                  |   302 |   140 |   164 |    606 |
| 2022-23 (Apr. 22-Jan.23) |   239 |   152 |   147 |    538 |

Source : OMCs

(c)  &  (d)  LPG  distributors    have  been  instructed  by  Public  Sector  Oil  Marketing  Companies (OMCs)  to  release  LPG  connections  after  satisfying  and  meeting  all  the  safety  norms  for installation of LPG connections.  Provisions, norms and steps taken to ensure safe usage of LPG, inter-alia, include   :-

- (i) Grant of approval for manufacturing units of LPG cylinders, valves and LPG regulators and design of these equipments, licensing of storage premises, cylinder testing and filling etc. is regulated under Gas Cylinder Rules 2016.
- (ii) Safe usage of LPG  cylinders by Domestic LPG  consumers, including  PMUY beneficiaries are governed under Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order 2000.
- (iii) LPG cylinders  are periodically tested for safety as per norms of the Chief Controller of Explosives, Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organisation( PESO).
- (iv) Supply of a laminated safety card with pictorial depictions of do's and don'ts related to LPG  connection  to  every  PMUY  beneficiary  at  the  time  of  releasing  LPG  connections. Installation of LPG connection at premises of the customer by a trained mechanic.
- (v) Organisation of Safety Clinics by distributor to spread awareness about safety aspects of LPG. Dedicated round the clock helpline number (1906) for immediate action in case of LPG leakage complaints.
- (vi) Organisation  of  mass  awareness  programmes  on  safe  usage  of  LPG  through  audiovideo/print media, banners/hoardings, leaflets, pamphlets, etc.
- (vii) Organisation of Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayats in villages to spread awareness about safe  and sustained usage of LPG amongst PMUY beneficiaries.
- (e)  &  (f)  OMCs  take  comprehensive  Insurance  Policy  under  'Public  Liability  Policy  for  Oil Industries' which covers all LPG consumers registered with OMCs. Public Liability Insurance Policy taken by OMCs covers losses arising out of accidents where LPG is the primary cause of fire.  Currently, the policy provides for the following :
- (i) Personal accident cover of Rs. 6,00,000/- per person in case of death.
- (ii)  Covers  medical  expenses  of  Rs.  30  lakh  per  event  with  maximum    of  Rs.  2,00,000/-  per person.
- (iii)  In  case  of  property  damage,  it  covers  maximum of Rs. 2,00,000/- per event at authorised customer's registered premises.

Details of claims settled and amount paid during the last three years and the current year are as under:-

| Year                     |   Claims Settled |   Amount Paid (Rs. in crore) |
|--------------------------|------------------|------------------------------|
| 2019-20                  |              793 |                        24.09 |
| 2020-21                  |              815 |                        19.63 |
| 2021-22                  |              489 |                        16.6  |
| 2022-23 (Apr. 22-Jan.23) |              187 |                         7.3  |

Source : OMCs