Amid LPG crisis, Centre pushes for PNG network expansion, seeks action plan in Lucknow within 21 days:LPG crisis deepens due to Iran war, emphasis on PNG.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Drawing lessons from the situation created by the LPG crisis in Iran due to the war, the central government has started setting up a comprehensive network of piped natural gas (PNG) across the country.

A review meeting was held under the joint chairmanship of the Secretaries of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on how to expand the PNG network from small towns to metro cities.

In this, it has been asked to give an action plan within three weeks on how to expand the PNG network in 110 priority areas across the country including Lucknow and Varanasi.

LPG connection crisis across the country

Tensions in Iran are steadily rising, deepening the LPG crisis across the country, including Lucknow. Long lines are forming outside gas agencies, leading to law and order situations in many places.

In Uttar Pradesh alone, the daily demand for LPG cylinders has reached over 1.1 million, while the supply is limited to only 750,000. The situation is similar in other states across the country.

To meet future needs, a review meeting held through video conferencing on Thursday directed the state urban development secretaries, district magistrates and municipal officials to work in mission mode in 110 high priority geographical areas, which have a network in over 150 districts and more than 260 municipal bodies.

Approximately 3 million new connections are expected in the next phase. This brings the total capacity target to 6 million new PNG connections. In addition to Lucknow, 100% network coverage is targeted in metropolitan cities such as Varanasi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Surat.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has directed states and municipalities to set ward-level targets and develop action plans within three weeks. Prioritizing group housing societies and large institutions, it has asked them to provide connections within a group. An MIS portal will also be developed to monitor progress, with daily reports uploaded.

It's worth noting that Dainik Jagran reported in its March 17th issue that PNG network hasn't yet reached even half of Lucknow. PNG supply began in Lucknow in 2011. It was claimed that PNG would be supplied to every neighborhood in Lucknow within the next five years, but even half the city hasn't yet been served by PNG pipelines.