Question : LPG CONNECTIONS .

(a) the total number of LPG connections issued to the new domestic consumers in the country after the de-duplication exercise was undertaken by the Oil Marketing Companies, State/UT-wise;

(b) the steps being taken by the Government to eliminate multiple LPG connections/PNG connections along with the number of LPG connections surrendered by the PNG users in the country so far, State/UT-wise;

(c) the number of multiple LPG connections cancelled during the ongoing Know Your Customer (KYC) drive and the nature of complaints received from various quarters during the KYC drive; and

(d) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard ?

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS ( Dr. M. VEERAPPA MOILY)

(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 401 BY SHRI S.R. JEYADURAI AND SHRI ARJUN MEGHWAL TO BE ANSWERED ON 21ST FEBRUARY, 2014 REGARDING LPG CONNECTIONS

(a) : The number of LPG connections released by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) after commencement of de-duplication exercise i.e from June 2012 are 21879444 (as on 01.01.2014). State/UT-wise details are at Annexure I.

(b) The OMCs have reported that 325544 LPG connections have been surrendered by PNG users as on 01.01.2014. State/UT-wise details of same are at Annexure II.

The steps taken by OMCs to eliminate Multiple LPG connections includes a Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance for a new connection, software deduplication prior to release of new connection and KYC for existing suspect duplicate connections, coordination with PNG companies to educate consumers and take undertaking to ensure LPG connection is kept in safe custody/ surrendered prior to issue of PNG connections. Multiple LPG connections are blocked by OMCs after detection until KYC is completed.

(c) & (d) The number of multiple connections that have been terminated during the ongoing Know Your Customers (KYC) drive is 108670 as on 01.01.2014. OMCs have reported that there are no established complaints on this account.

However, in case where the LPG connection of someone else is being utilised by a LPG consumer, which comes to light as part of KYC compliance, provisions have been made so that regularisation of LPG connections in the name of family members or outside the family is permitted on payment of differential deposit amount to ensure that genuine consumers can regularise their LPG connection.