(Image source from: Online payment facility for LPG consumers)

By the end of 2016, LPG consumers will be able to refill by availing online payment facility. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan made an announcement regarding this besides describing 2016 as ‘the year of the LPG consumer’.

“In the three calendar years of 2016, 2017 and 2018, we have set the target for supplying clean fuel to at least 70 per cent of the households,” he said.Single helpline number for gas leaks -1906

Now LPG consumers can also make use of single short helpline number to dial seeking help in case of gas leaks. For LPG leaks Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the 24X7 all-India helpline 1906.

Earlier, each oil marketing company used to have a separate helpline numbers for cases of gas leaks. But consumers can now just dial 1906 for prompt help, said Mr Pradhan.

However, the number for gas leak is not toll free right now. The minister urged the heads of the OMCs to make it as a toll free number as early as possible.

The minister said that nearly five lakh women die each year due to indoor pollution caused because of the use of wood or gobar as fuel particularly for cooking. Besides this, people fall ill in thousands of number, adding more to the medical expenditure. Efforts are being made by the government to supply cleaner LPG fuel to as many households as possible. The target is to provide LPG connection to 70% households by the end of 2018.  

According to the Minister, “Right now, there are around 27 crore households in India, out of which 16.5 crore have active LPG connections. We added 1.35 crore new LPG consumers last year.”

-Sumana