Lok Sabha Question No. 759 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-07
Subject: Safety Standards of LPG Cylinders
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Ajay Kumar Mandal, Geeta Kora, Mahabali Singh, Navneet Ravi Rana, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Rama Devi

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 759 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th  DECEMBER, 2023

## Safety Standards of LPG Cylinders

†759.   SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: SHRIMATI GEETA KORA: SHRI MAHABALI SINGH: SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU: SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

पेोिलयम एवं ाक ृ ितक गैस मं ी

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

(a)  the  details  of  safety  standards  of  LPG  cylinder  including  its  average  life  and  the  average  time  to recycle it;

(b)  whether  many  domestic  LPG  cylinders  are  being  used  for  several  years  without  recycling  which causes many blast accidents;

(c) if so, the number of LPG cylinder blast accidents reported during the last five years in the country;

(d) whether there is any provision to provide compensation to the families of victim and if so, the details thereof along with the procedure prescribed for it; and

(e) the action taken against distributors of non-recycled LPG cylinders?

## ANSWER

## पेोिलयम एवं ाक ृ ितक गैस मं ालय म रायमंी ( ी रामेर तेली ) MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a): LPG cylinders are manufactured as per Indian Standards (IS): 3196 (Part-I) 2006.  Each batch of new cylinders is tested by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as per sampling plan given in clause 3.7 of IS 3196 part -I before dispatch. Based on the BIS certificate, approval is given by the Chief Controller of Explosives (CCoE), Nagpur or his authorised representative for the use of the cylinders for LPG filling as per Gas Cylinder Rules (GCR), 2016.

Under the Gas Cylinder Rules 2016, each cylinder is required to be re-tested to ascertain the fitness for further  service.  The  periodicity  of  re-test  is  10  years  from  the  date  of  manufacture  of  cylinders  and subsequently every five years thereafter. LPG cylinders are therefore periodically tested for safety as per norms set by Petroleum & Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO). The statutory testing of cylinders is done as per IS 16054.

(b)  &  (c):  Cylinders  due  for  statutory  testing  are  segregated  at  LPG  filling  Plant  and  sent  for  testing before  putting  them  to  use.  LPG  cylinders  due  for  statutory  testing  are  not  filled  or  despatched  from filling  Plants.  Accidents  in  domestic  LPG  cylinders  happen  due  to  various  reasons  which  inter-alia include pilferage from cylinders, transfer of LPG from domestic to non-domestic cylinder, use of nonapproved/non-standard  equipments, improper  handling  at  consumer's  premises,  not  changing  hosepipe periodically leading to its wear & tear, failure of O-rings, leakage from LPG hose, leakage from stove, LPG cylinder bursting due to extreme heat generated during fire caused by other factors etc. The total number of accidents attributed to LPG due to various reasons in last five years is as under:

| Year    |   Total for OMCs* |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2018-19 |               983 |
| 2019-20 |               825 |
| 2020-21 |              1019 |
| 2021-22 |               606 |
| 2022-23 |               649 |

Source: Indian Oil Corporation Limited on industry basis

(d):  Oil  Marketing  Companies  (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 ` 6,00,000/- per person in case of death.
- (ii) Covers medical expenses of ` 30 lakh per event with maximum  of ` 2,00,000/- per person.
- (iii) In case of property damage, it covers maximum of ` 2,00,000/- per event at authorised customer's registered premises.

In  case  of  any  accident  involving  consumer's  premises,  customer  has  to  inform  respective  OMC distributor.  OMC's  office  upon  intimation  from  the  distributor,  intimates  the  Insurance  Company.  The concerned  Insurance  Company  takes  further  decision  regarding  settlement  of  the  claim  as  per  the provisions of Insurance Policies.

- (e): LPG distributorships are appointed as per Unified Selection Guidelines, 2016 and governed by the Distributorship Agreement signed between OMC and the distributor. The conduct of LPG distributorship is regulated as per the regulations set under Marketing Disciplinary Guidelines and penalties are imposed based on the nature of irregularities.