Lok Sabha Question No. 1314 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Supply of Expired LPG Cylinders
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: NITYANAND RAI

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1314 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  JULY 2016

## SUPPLY OF EXPIRED LPG CYLINDERS

†1314. SHRI NITYANAND RAI:

पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a) whether instances of supply of expired LPG cylinders have been reported/ come to the notice of the Government in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year,  Oil Marketing Companies (OMC)/State/ UT-wise;
- (c) whether explosion in LPG cylinders have been reported/occurred on account of supply of expired LPG cylinders;
- (d) if so, the number of such incidents identified during the said period, State/UTwise;
- (e) the corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f) whether the Government has been able to proposes to supply adequate number of small cylinders vis-a-vis their demand in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( स्विंत्र प्रभार ) ( श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN THE MINISTRY PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

OF

- (a) to (d) : Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies(OMCs) have reported that LPG cylinders  are  manufactured  as  per  BIS  3196  through  manufacturers  approved  by Chief Controller of Explosives, Nagpur (CCOE) and having BIS License. Thereafter, the  LPG  cylinders  are  checked  at  the  LPG  Bottling  Plants  and  only  the  cylinders which are found to meet BIS standards are filled, checked for quality after filling and

are sent to the distributors for distribution to the customers. All new LPG cylinders are required to be put for first Statutory Testing & Painting (ST&P) after 10 years of manufacturing date of the cylinder. Subsequently, the LPG cylinders are put to ST&P after every 5 years. Such testing  of  LPG  cylinders  are  done  through  repairers  approved  by  Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). LPG cylinders requiring repairs are put for Hot Repairs only once in its lifetime as per BIS codes of practice. Each such Hot Repaired  cylinder  is  certified  for  use  by  BIS  and  accordingly  put  into  circulation thereafter. OMCs have reported that no specific complaint relating to expired LPG cylinders in circulation have been received in the country.

(e) Measures adopted by the OMCs for ensuring safety and educating customers are as under : -

- (i) Gas distributors are under instruction to carry out mandatory checks of the LPG installation at the customers premises once in two years.
- (ii) Use of suraksha LPG hose with steel wire reinforcement which is rodent attack proof & flame retardant, is being promoted for usage at all customers premises for improving safety in the use of LPG in the domestic kitchen.
- (iii) OMCs undertake regular  campaigns  to  improve  the  safety  awareness  of  the customers. Customer education is imparted right at the time of release of new connection  through  displays  and  demo-installation  at  distributors  showroom and at the time of installation of the connection at the residence. Safety leaflets and domestic gas customer card containing instructions on safe use of LPG are also handed over to the customer for reference.
- (iv) Safety  and  customer  education  clinics  are  conducted  from  time  to  time  to increase customer awareness on safe use of LPG.
- (v) Emergency service cell has been put in place for attending leakage complaints after  working  hours  of  distributorship  and  on  holidays.  The  contact  details  of emergency service cells of the particular area are displayed at the distributors showroom and are also printed in the refill cash memos. The numbers are also propagated during the safety clinics.

(f) OMCs have reported that they are marketing 5 kg cylinders also in the country and procurement is made to meet the market demand.

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