Question : LPG Connections

(a) whether the penetration and reach of LPG in rural areas is unfavourable and if so, the details thereof along with the number of LPG connections and distributors in position in rural areas of the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) the number of application for allotment of LPG distributorships received/allotted during the last two years and the current year and the steps taken to increase LPG distributorships in rural areas and clear the pending applications, State/ UT-wise including Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu;
(c) the average consumption and coverage of LPG on household basis in rural areas as compared to urban agglomerations along with the steps being taken by the Government to cover all households and provide door-to-door delivery of LPG cylinders in rural areas, State/UT-wise and the achievements thereof;
(d) the percentage of households not having LPG connection and percentage of LPG coverage in the country and LPG connection provided to them during the said period along with the number of persons in the waiting list and action taken to clear waiting list, State/UT-wise, including Jharkhand; and
(e) whether the Government has noticed an increase/growth in the sale of commercial cylinders to shops/hotels/ restaurants during the said period and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) There is a continuous increase in LPG connections and distributorships in rural areas of the country. The national coverage of LPG as on 01.04.2014 was 55.9%, which has now increased to 71.7 % as on 01.03.2017.
As on 01.03.2017, there are 10984 LPG distributors serving 8.55 crore rural domestic customers. State/UT-wise details of LPG distributors and LPG consumers are at Annexure–I and Annexure-II respectively.
(b) OMCs have released advertisement for 3074 locations for selection of LPG distributorships in the country between 01.04.2014 till date. 4761 new distributorships have been commissioned from 01.04.2014 till date.
State/UT-wise details of application received for allotment of LPG distributorships including the States of Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu are available with the respective Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
(c) The LPG coverage in rural areas as on 01.03.2017 is 46 % against national coverage of 71.7 %. Average consumption of LPG during Financial Year 2015-16 was 7.7 refills (14.2 kg.)/consumer.
For increasing penetration in rural areas, OMCs are appointing LPG distributorships continuously. Recently, OMCs have advertised for setting up 1531 new distributorships in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Punjab. 56 new distributorships under Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV) category have been sanctioned to the agencies of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh Government.
Further, to increase door-to-door delivery, all existing RGGLV distributorships with monthly refill sale of more than 1500 are being treated as ‘Gramin Vitrak’ with mandatory home delivery facility.
(d) As on 01.03.2017, national LPG coverage is 71.7 %. OMCs have released more than 2.04 crore new LPG connections in the Financial Year 2015-16 and as on 14.03.2017, OMCs have released more than 3.11 crore new LPG connections in the current Financial Year.
Release of LPG connections is a continuous process. LPG distributors are under instruction to release new connections on demand and, if any waiting list arises, liquidate the same within seven days. The States/UTs wise details of waiting list including the State of Jharkhand as on 01.03.2017 are at Annexure-III.
(e) Growth rate of commercial cylinders which is supplied to shops, hotels, restaurants etc. for the last three years is as under :-
Year
Growth over same period last year (in %)
2014-15
-2.1
2015-16
39.3
Aprl.-Feb.17
23.5