(a) whether the Government has set any target for opening of more LPG distribution agencies in the country, particularly in
Chhatisgarh during the year 2008-09 ;
(b) if so, whether the Government has identified locations for the said purpose ;
(c) the number of such agencies established in Chhatisgarh so far ; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to achieve the said target for the year 2008-09 ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS(SHRI DINSHA PATEL )
(a) to (d) : Government have given freedom to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to set up LPG distributorships
in accordance with their commercial assessment and locations are identified by them on the basis of available refill sale
potential for sustaining independent distributorships. However, Government have advised OMCs to draw up Marketing Plans for
covering semi-urban and rural areas. OMCs have finalized a common industry marketing plan covering 1340 locations in
the country including, 16 locations in the State of Chhattisgarh for setting up new LPG distributorships mainly in
rural and urban-rural (semi-urban) locations. The advertisements for the 16 locations in the State of Chhattisgarh have
been released and selection process is in progress as per policy.
The setting up of LPG distributorships is a continuous process and involves identifying of a suitable location, arranging
land for setting up of godown and other statutory clearances. It is not possible to indicate any time frame for setting up
of LPG distributorships.
As on 01.11.2008, OMCs are operating 153 LPG distributorships in the State of Chhattisgarh.