(a) the number of consumers prescribed for appointment of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distributors ;
(b) whether the LPG distributors in Madhya Pradesh have more than prescribed number of consumers resulting delay in supply of LPG ;
(c) if so, whether the Government has any scheme to increase the number of distributors where the number of consumers is more than prescribed limit ;
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS ( SHRI DINSHA PATEL )
(a): Locations for setting up of LPG distributorship are identified by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) based on the feasibility study. The population of the location, economic status, purchasing ability, per capita consumption of LPG of nearby existing market of LPG, etc are the factors taken into account in the feasibility study. If setting of LPG distributorship is commercially viable then LPG distributorship is planned. There is no fix number of consumers prescribed for appointment of LPG gas agency. Though there are no fixed number of consumers prescribed for appointment of a LPG distributorship, refill ceiling limits for a distributorship of a market location have been fixed varying from 8,000 to 15,000 refills, depending upon the population of that market.
(b) to (d) : Although, there are some distributors who are selling refills above the refill ceiling limits prescribed for that market in Madhya Pradesh, no delay has been reported by the OMCs in supply of refills to the customers as these distributors have sufficient infrastructure to cater to the demands of the customers. Based on the feasibility studies, LPG distributorships have been planned under various markets in Madhya Pradesh. As on 1.4.2006, 74 LPG distributorships planned under various Marketing Plans are pending for appointment in Madhya Pradesh.