Lok Sabha Question No. 1064 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-27
Subject: Old/Expired LPG Cylinders
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: NITYANAND RAI, R. VANAROJA, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, B.N. CHANDRAPPA

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1064**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 27** **TH** **JULY,  2015**

**OLD/EXPIRED LPG CYLINDERS**

**†1064. SHRI NITYANAND RAI:**

**SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:**

**SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:**

**SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA:**

पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राकृतिक गैस मंत्री

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

(a) the total number of liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders of various oil companies in circulation in the country, State/UT/Oil Marketing Company (OMCs)-wise;

(b) whether complaints relating to expired/old/obsolete LPG cylinders in circulation have been received by the Government/OMCs;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to replace such cylinders and supply small cylinders in adequate number in the country, State/ OMC-wise;

(d) the number of persons injured/killed and loss of property as a result of LPG cylinder blasts occurred during the last three years and the current year and steps taken by the Government in this regard, State/ UT-wise;

(e) whether the public sector oil companies have taken appropriate safety measures and deployed supervisory officials for ensuring safety of the people and property while transporting and supplying of LPG cylinders;

(f) if so, the number of such incidents have occurred during the above period and the steps taken by the Government to curb such accidents in future; and

(g) whether the safety instructions on LPG cylinders are not printed in all Indian languages and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard and protect the consumer rights?

ANSWER

पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राकृतिक गैस मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) (श्री धर्मेन्द्र प्रधान)

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

(a) State/UT-wise total number of 14.2 Kg. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders of the public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), namely, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) in circulation are at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c) : OMCs have reported that no specific complaint relating to expired / old / obsolete LPG cylinders in circulation have been received.

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.

Measures adopted for ensuring safety at customer’s premises are as under : -

1. Gas distributors are under instruction to carry out mandatory checks of the LPG installation at the customers premises once in two years.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Safety and customer education clinics are conducted from time to time to increase customer awareness on safe use of LPG.
5. Emergency service cell have 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.
6. In case of leakage, prompt attendances on priority are undertaken by trained mechanics appointed by the distributors.

All the trucks transporting LPG cylinders are certified for its fitness from respective authority on yearly basis and equipped with followings :

1. CCOE (Chief Controller of Explosives) approved Spark Arrester.
2. 2 Nos. of approved 10 kg DCP fire extinguishers.
3. Anti lock braking system (ABS).
4. Anti Static Rubber mat on the Truck floor.
5. Master cut off switch.
6. Cylinders are transported in vertical position only.
7. Body of the truck is covered with caging system for better stability and security of cylinders.
8. Trucks are painted with standardised colour scheme of the corporation along with emergency contact details.
9. One driver and Khalasi.

Further, the three oil companies (IOCL/BPCL/HPCL) have jointly taken public liability insurance policy to protect the public due to any accidents involving LPG transported from supply location to distributors and distributors to customers and at customers premises.

(d) OMCs have reported that no LPG accidents have been reported due to blasting of LPG cylinders on its own in the last 3 years and current year. However, cases have been reported where LPG cylinder got engulfed in fire caused by other sources/reasons and subsequently burst due to extreme external heat generated by fire. The details of state/UT-wise accidents due to involvement of LPG equipments reported in the last three years  and the current year is at Annexure-II.

(e) & (f) OMCs have reported that all the trucks transporting LPG cylinders are certified for the fitness from respective authority on yearly basis.

Further, Public liability insurance policy has been taken jointly by OMCs (IOC/BPCL/HPCL) to protect  the public due to any accidents involving LPG, transported from supply location to distributors and distributors to customers and at customers premises. In addition, transporters also take carrier legal liability insurance and third party insurance.

Officers at supply locations ensure the above, while loading the trucks with LPG cylinders and field officers ensure the safety at distributor’s end during surprise inspection.

(g) Safety instructions are stencilled in Hindi and English on the cylinder as per BIS specifications.

| **Annexure in reply to part (a) of Unstarred Lok Sabha Question No. 1064 asked by Shri Nityanand Rai and others, to be answered on 27th  July 2015 in relation to                        " Old/Expired LPG Cylinders”**   |                                                                      |           |           |            |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|------------|
| **Statewise 14.2 Kg Cylinder in Circulation of OMCs as on 01.07.2015**                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                      |           |           |            |
| **STATE/UT**                                                                                                                                                                                                              | **Total no. of 14.2 kg cylinders of OMCs in circulation (in Lakhs)** |           |           |            |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | **IOCL**                                                             | **BPCL**  | **HPCL**  | **TOTAL**  |
| CHANDIGARH                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 4.5                                                                  | 3.1       | 1.5       | 9.1        |
| DELHI                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 68.1                                                                 | 22.3      | 14.9      | 105.3      |
| HARYANA                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 41.4                                                                 | 32.5      | 20.4      | 94.3       |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 25.4                                                                 | 2.1       | 3.4       | 30.9       |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 11.8                                                                 | 3.7       | 23.6      | 39.1       |
| PUNJAB                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 72.1                                                                 | 34.9      | 26.2      | 133.2      |
| RAJASTHAN                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 71.3                                                                 | 43.3      | 44.4      | 159.1      |
| UTTAR PRADESH                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 202.1                                                                | 89.8      | 51.8      | 343.8      |
| UTTRANCHAL                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 34.0                                                                 | 11.6      | 2.3       | 47.9       |
| **SUB TOTAL NORTH**                                                                                                                                                                                                       | **530.8**                                                            | **243.4** | **188.4** | **962.6**  |
| ANDAMAN & NICOBAR                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 2.1                                                                  |           | 0.0       | 2.1        |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 4.6                                                                  | 0.1       | 0.0       | 4.7        |
| ASSAM                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 48.2                                                                 | 4.2       | 0.0       | 52.4       |
| BIHAR                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 59.3                                                                 | 23.4      | 23.1      | 105.9      |
| JHARKHAND                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 24.2                                                                 | 4.4       | 7.4       | 36.1       |
| MANIPUR                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 6.8                                                                  |           | 0.0       | 6.8        |
| MEGHALAYA                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 3.3                                                                  | 0.1       | 0.0       | 3.4        |
| MIZORAM                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 5.6                                                                  |           | 0.0       | 5.6        |
| NAGALAND                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4.5                                                                  | 0.0       | 0.0       | 4.5        |
| ODISHA                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 20.9                                                                 | 12.7      | 19.5      | 53.1       |
| SIKKIM                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2.7                                                                  |           | 0.0       | 2.7        |
| TRIPURA                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 7.5                                                                  |           | 0.0       | 7.5        |
| WEST BENGAL                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 103.7                                                                | 36.6      | 34.1      | 174.4      |
| **SUB TOTAL EAST**                                                                                                                                                                                                        | **293.3**                                                            | **81.5**  | **84.2**  | **459.0**  |
| CHATTISGARH                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 19.4                                                                 | 7.4       | 12.0      | 38.7       |
| DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 0.0                                                                  |           | 1.2       | 1.2        |
| DAMAN & DIU                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 0.0                                                                  | 0.4       | 0.7       | 1.1        |
| GOA                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0.3                                                                  | 3.6       | 6.7       | 10.6       |
| GUJARAT                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 82.0                                                                 | 37.0      | 31.6      | 150.6      |
| MADHYA PRADESH                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 67.5                                                                 | 28.7      | 34.3      | 130.5      |
| MAHARASHTRA                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 42.0                                                                 | 161.5     | 152.0     | 355.5      |
| **SUB TOTAL WEST**                                                                                                                                                                                                        | **211.1**                                                            | **238.6** | **238.6** | **688.2**  |
| ANDHRA PRADESH                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 61.4                                                                 | 31.4      | 79.2      | 172.1      |
| KARNATAKA                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 77.7                                                                 | 45.2      | 64.0      | 187.0      |
| KERALA                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 80.0                                                                 | 44.0      | 26.6      | 150.6      |
| LAKSHADWEEP                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 0.1                                                                  |           | 0.0       | 0.1        |
| PONDICHERRY                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 2.3                                                                  | 2.3       | 2.3       | 6.9        |
| TAMILNADU                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 163.3                                                                | 71.9      | 42.8      | 277.9      |
| TELANGANA                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 54.8                                                                 | 31.4      | 48.5      | 134.7      |
| **SUB TOTAL SOUTH**                                                                                                                                                                                                       | **439.6**                                                            | **226.2** | **263.5** | **929.2**  |
| **ALL INDIA**                                                                                                                                                                                                             | **1474.8**                                                           | **789.6** | **774.7** | **3039.1** |

| **Annexure in reply to part (d) of Unstarred Lok Sabha Question  No. 1064 asked by Shri Nityanand Rai and others , to be answered on 27th July 2015 in relation to " Old/expired LPG Cylinders"**   |                      |                       |                  |                      |                       |                  |                      |                       |                  |                       |                        |                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|---------------------|
| **State**                                                                                                                                                                                           | **2012-13**          |                       |                  | **2013-14**          |                       |                  | **2014-15**          |                       |                  | **Apri-June 2015**    |                        |                     |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                     | **No. of accidents** | **Nos of Fatalaties** | **Nos. Injured** | **No. of accidents** | **Nos of Fatalaties** | **Nos. Injured** | **No. of accidents** | **Nos of Fatalaties** | **Nos. Injured** | **Nos. of Accidents** | **Nos. of Fatalities** | **Nos. of Injured** |
| Andhra Pradesh+ Telengana                                                                                                                                                                           | 22                   | 3                     | 24               | 16                   | 8                     | 18               | 17                   | 3                     | 32               | 9                     | 3                      | 10                  |
| Assam                                                                                                                                                                                               | 2                    | 0                     | 1                | 2                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 1                     | 0                      | 1                   |
| Bihar                                                                                                                                                                                               | 3                    | 9                     | 11               | 3                    | 4                     | 3                | 5                    | 4                     | 4                | 1                     | 0                      | 2                   |
| Chandigarh                                                                                                                                                                                          | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 2                    | 0                     | 3                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Chattisgarh                                                                                                                                                                                         | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 1                    | 0                     | 1                | 1                    | 0                     | 10               | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli                                                                                                                                                                                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 2                    | 0                     | 3                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Daman & Diu                                                                                                                                                                                         | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                               | 2                    | 2                     | 5                | 2                    | 1                     | 12               | 3                    | 1                     | 0                | 4                     | 1                      | 0                   |
| Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                                             | 25                   | 3                     | 18               | 36                   | 4                     | 19               | 17                   | 5                     | 7                | 2                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Haryana                                                                                                                                                                                             | 2                    | 0                     | 2                | 2                    | 0                     | 1                | 4                    | 1                     | 4                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                    | 3                    | 0                     | 4                | 5                    | 3                     | 8                | 5                    | 0                     | 2                | 1                     | 1                      | 3                   |
| Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                                                                                                     | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 1                    | 0                     | 0                | 1                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Jharkhand                                                                                                                                                                                           | 4                    | 2                     | 2                | 2                    | 0                     | 1                | 3                    | 0                     | 1                | 1                     | 0                      | 1                   |
| Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                                           | 22                   | 15                    | 46               | 21                   | 4                     | 26               | 28                   | 9                     | 44               | 12                    | 0                      | 6                   |
| Kerala                                                                                                                                                                                              | 16                   | 0                     | 6                | 19                   | 3                     | 17               | 19                   | 3                     | 2                | 6                     | 0                      | 2                   |
| Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                      | 6                    | 0                     | 3                | 3                    | 1                     | 8                | 12                   | 1                     | 18               | 4                     | 1                      | 1                   |
| Goa                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 3                    | 1                     | 2                | 2                    | 0                     | 1                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                                         | 6                    | 0                     | 13               | 15                   | 11                    | 44               | 31                   | 4                     | 62               | 9                     | 1                      | 6                   |
| Meghalaya                                                                                                                                                                                           | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Orissa                                                                                                                                                                                              | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 2                    | 0                     | 0                | 5                    | 4                     | 2                | 1                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Punjab                                                                                                                                                                                              | 6                    | 0                     | 2                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 1                    | 0                     | 1                | 1                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Puducherry                                                                                                                                                                                          | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Rajasthan                                                                                                                                                                                           | 14                   | 5                     | 8                | 7                    | 0                     | 8                | 15                   | 6                     | 24               | 8                     | 5                      | 18                  |
| Tamil Nadu                                                                                                                                                                                          | 15                   | 7                     | 3                | 12                   | 8                     | 18               | 51                   | 34                    | 35               | 12                    | 7                      | 11                  |
| Tripura                                                                                                                                                                                             | 1                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                                       | 23                   | 8                     | 51               | 23                   | 9                     | 17               | 29                   | 23                    | 83               | 3                     | 0                      | 4                   |
| Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                                                                         | 4                    | 10                    | 10               | 2                    | 0                     | 5                | 0                    | 0                     | 0                | 2                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| West Bengal                                                                                                                                                                                         | 4                    | 2                     | 6                | 10                   | 2                     | 4                | 13                   | 17                    | 10               | 0                     | 0                      | 0                   |
| **Grand Total**                                                                                                                                                                                     | **180**              | **66**                | **215**          | **190**              | **59**                | **218**          | **262**              | **115**               | **342**          | **78**                | **19**                 | **65**              |