Crisis in the pipeline for LPG agencies amid PNG push in Lko

Nearly 10,000 domestic consumers in Lucknow shifted from LPG cylinders to piped natural gas (PNG) in the past four months, causing a 20% decline in business for gas agencies since March.

Lucknow has 117 LPG distributorships, which support nearly 7,020 families; each distributorship employs about 60 people directly and indirectly.

Dealers urge the government and oil marketing companies to allow consumers to retain LPG cylinders as backup during PNG outages, as current policy requires surrendering the LPG connection.

Jagdish Raj, president of the UP LPG Distributors Association, says they are not opposing PNG but are concerned about the survival of the LPG distribution network and livelihoods.