2 months ago
2
The Union Government has written to State governments and Union Territories urging them that pending applications for laying of metropolis state organisation pipelines (CGD) be given deemed approval and caller applications beryllium accorded support wrong twenty-four hours, Sujata Sharma, Joint-Secretary astatine the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) told reporters present successful an inter-ministerial briefing present Tuesday (March 17, 2026).
Additionally, Ms. Sharma informed that the Union Govt has besides urged that the respective governments waive disconnected roadworthy restoration and support charges and unbend moving conditions, among different things.
“The [Union] Government has written to governments of States and national territories requesting them that each pending applications for laying of pipelines beryllium accorded ‘deemed approval’, caller applications beryllium approved wrong twenty-four hours,” she stated, adding, “Further, the roadworthy restoration and support charges - that are levied by the respective State governments - be waived off, instituting a relaxation connected moving hours and moving season, and name a nodal serviceman for amended coordination and faster rollout.”
Separately, successful effect to a query, she told reporters that home LPG accumulation has accrued 38% till day since the proviso attraction orders were issued.
Further, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary astatine the Ministry of Shipping and Waterways besides informed that the six tankers presently astatine the Western portion of the Strait of Hormuz, are carrying astatine an mean of 45,000 metric tonnes of the cooking gas, totalling to astir 3 lakh metrictonnes.
For context, the underlined actions are portion of the government’s broader objective to punctual a supportive infrastructure to punctual consumers for a power to piped earthy state (PNG), to easiness disconnected unit off liquified petroleum state (LPG) which faces continued unit amidst the escalating tensions successful West Asia. India imports 60% of its LPG requirements, of which 90% is routed done the Strait of Hormuz.
Essential to note, astatine the property briefing Monday (March 16, 2026), Ms. Sharma had besides informed that several CGD companies were providing incentives to beforehand the imaginable transition. For example, distributors Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) and GAIL Gas, are offering ₹500-worth of escaped state to home consumers; Mahanagar Gas Ltd is seeking to waive disconnected the mandatory registration complaint of ₹500 for home consumers, and Bharat Petroleum looking to waive disconnected information deposits for each imaginable commercialized piped connections.
For context, according to information from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), as of September end past year, it had authorised laying of astir 34,200 km of earthy state pipelines. Of this, 25,293 km has been made operational with 9,954 km nether construction.
PNGRB waives disconnected imbalance charges
From the position of the supply, the regulator informed, considering the “prevailing geopolitical crisis”, that it has decided to waive disconnected imbalance charges applicable to applicable entities, shippers and consumers until June 30 – with contiguous effect.
“This waiver is being allowed arsenic a impermanent alleviation measure in airy of the bonzer circumstances arising retired of the existent geopolitical concern successful the Gulf countries, which has adversely impacted proviso conditions and operational balancing,” the announcement read, adding, “During the aforesaid period, nary imbalance charges shall beryllium levied connected acrophobic entities/shipper successful respect of state scheduling/offtake/transportation/balancing taxable to compliance with each different presumption and conditions, regulations, and operational requirements.”
For context, imbalance charges are levied connected the acrophobic entities for ineffective utilisation of earthy state pipelines.
