Lok Sabha Question No. 2280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-08
Subject: PNG Connections
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Supriya Sadanand Sule, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2280

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.03.2021

## PNG Connections

2280.   DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.: SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

## पेोलयम और ाक ृतक गैस मंी

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

- (a) whether the Government has achieved the target of providing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connection from 25 lakhs to one crore connection as reported recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken in this regard;
- (c) the number of private operators who have been allowed to provide PNG to the houses during the last two years and the success achieved therein;
- (d) whether  the  Government's  attention  is  drawn  to  denial  of  providing  PNG  by  IGL  to consumers living in private colony in South West Delhi who have deposited requisite amount for new connection even though PNG is provided in the said locality;
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  corrective  steps  to  provide PNG to these consumers in a time-bound manner including the other steps taken by the Government to provide PNG in all cities of the country in a time-bound manner?

## ANSWER पेोलयम और ाक ृतक गैस मंी ( ी धम धान )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a)      Government  is  taking  steps  to  enable  growth  of  CGD  sector  in  the  country  including allocating domestic natural gas to CGD sector as top priority under no cut category.  As per data

provided by PNGRB, as on 31.12.2020, the total number of domestic PNG connection in India was approximately 72.47 lakh.

(b) Regular monitoring including meetings with other Central Government Departments and States Governments are held to increase the coverage of CGD network/PNG connection in the country.  In  this  regard,  various  Ministries  have  issued  guidelines  for  increased  penetration  of CNG/PNG in their jurisdiction and few of them are:

- i. Public Utility Status granted to CGD Projects by Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- ii. Ministry  of  Defence  has  issued  guidelines  for  use  of  PNG  in  its  residential  area/unit lines.
- iii. Department of Public Enterprises has issued guidelines to Public Sector Enterprises to have the provisions of PNG in their respective residential complexes.
- iv. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has directed to CPWD and NBCC to have the provisions of PNG in all Government  Residential Complexes.
- v. Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade notified amended rules 2018 to ease out process to set up CNG dispensing facilities at existing OMC Retail Outlets .

(c) PNGRB has authorized 22 private operators to provide PNG to the houses during the last two  years.  They  are  in  the  process  of  establishing  infrastructure  as  per  the  Minimum  Work Programme. About 55,000 domestic PNG connections and about 260 CNG stations have been completed by them upto 31.12.2020.

(d) IGL has informed that they are working towards providing PNG to all the households in its  authorized  GAs,  including  NCT  of  Delhi  including  for  those  who  have  deposited  requisite amount for new connection, where PNG is available in the same locality, except for the cases wherein it is technically not feasible due to safety concerns.

(e) Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB)  is  the  authority  to  grant authorization  to  the  entities  for  the  development  of  City  Gas  Distribution  (CGD)  network  in Geographical Areas (GAs) as per PNGRB Act, 2006.  PNGRB identifies GAs for authorizing the development of CGD network in synchronization with the development of natural gas pipeline connectivity, natural gas availability and techno commercial viability.  So far as 232 GAs have been authorised for development of CGD network across the country upto 10 th CGD bidding round covering more than 400 districts in the country in 27 States/Union Territories.