Almost all decks have been cleared to suspend domestic LPG supply to households that are getting piped natural gas (PNG) supply. Oil ministry sources said that an amendment to this effect in Liquified Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order is expected in a month.

This amendment would also ensure that applicants for new LPG connection don’t have PNG supply. Applicants for new LPG connections would have to submit an affidavit once the amendment comes through. Currently, about 95,000 in Delhi and 300,000 households in Mumbai, apart from 12 other cities (see table) get PNG supply.

The proposal for this amendment has been hanging fire for more than six months. Oil marketing companies like Indian Oil, HPCL and BPCL had proposed that all households having PNG supply should surrender LPG connections. But petroleum and natural gas minister, Murli Deora, favoured suspending the connections instead of surrendering them. This would facilitate consumers, as they would not have to go through the rigorous process of applying for new LPG connection if they move to places where PNG supply is not available.

“The main objective of this proposal was to avoid diversion of domestic LPG for other uses,” an oil company official told The Indian Express. “Secondly, this would reduce subsidy Bill of the Government. We understand the concern of minister for common man and support his view.”

The ball, for now, rests in Dinsha Patel’s court. The minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, currently busy with assembly elections in Gujarat, is expected to be back by Monday. Once he clears the amendment, it would require vetting by law and justice ministry. “The entire process should not take more than a month’s time,” oil ministry sources said.