Madhya Pradesh is ramping up its transition to piped natural gas (PNG), aiming to enhance connections despite underutilization of the current network. State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Govind Singh Rajput emphasized the need to convert pipeline coverage into active users while cracking down on LPG black marketing.
The state has laid PNG infrastructure in various urban clusters, but many households and establishments are yet to avail connections. Although city gas networks have expanded to multiple districts, the actual number of domestic PNG connections falls short of targets, indicating a gap between availability and adoption.
To bridge this gap, a targeted campaign will be launched over the next three months to connect households and commercial units with existing pipeline access. Additionally, the state is streamlining Right of Use (RoU) approvals to facilitate rapid network expansion by city gas distribution entities.
Continuous efforts are underway to combat black marketing and ensure the smooth supply of essential commodities. Inspections at numerous locations have led to the confiscation of LPG cylinders and the initiation of FIRs, with similar actions taken at petrol pumps where irregularities were detected.
Amidst these measures, Minister Rajput assured the public of stable fuel availability, emphasizing the importance of cleaner energy options like PNG. The state is prioritizing PNG connections for institutions, government facilities, and industrial units near existing pipelines, while also extending the network to new areas to reduce the burden on LPG distribution.
As part of a broader strategy to promote cleaner fuel usage, Madhya Pradesh is advocating for alternative energy solutions such as biogas and solar cooking. The government is actively promoting the operationalization of compressed biogas projects and maximizing the utilization of existing plants across districts.
