Maharashtra Government Establishes 24/7 Helplines to Enhance PNG Coverage in West Asia Crisis Affected Areas

Maharashtra Government Takes Steps to Ensure Wider Piped Natural Gas Coverage

The Maharashtra government has issued a Government Resolution (GR) to city gas distribution companies, instructing them to take several measures to ensure wider coverage of piped natural gas (PNG) connections across the state. The GR, issued by the Food and Civil Supplies Department on Friday, comes in the wake of disruptions in global energy supply chains due to the West Asia crisis.

The GR noted that the disruptions in global energy supply have affected petroleum product availability, leading to constraints in LPG supply. In response, the government has emphasized the need to accelerate PNG connections as a short-term mitigation measure. To facilitate this, the GR directed city gas distribution (CGD) companies to operationalise 24-hour helplines for consumers, ensuring that citizens do not face inconvenience while applying for connections.

In addition to the helplines, the GR instructed companies to increase the number of helpdesks based on city population and rising demand. The companies were also asked to expand ward-level centres to accept new PNG connection applications and to make both online and offline application systems widely available with adequate publicity. Furthermore, the GR called for establishing information and assistance centres by municipal corporations, district supply officers, and CGD firms.

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To monitor implementation, the GR mandated that CGD companies appoint district-level nodal officers and submit weekly progress reports on PNG pipeline expansion and connections. These reports will be consolidated and reviewed at the state level every Monday. The government has also directed housing societies, whether registered or proposed, as well as residents of constructed buildings, to submit collective or individual applications to facilitate faster rollout of PNG connections.

The GR stated that the directions will remain in force until the prevailing global geopolitical situation stabilises. By taking these steps, the Maharashtra government aims to ensure that citizens have access to reliable and efficient PNG connections, mitigating the impact of the global energy crisis on the state's energy supply chains.

Note: The above table presents a comparison of the current and increased number of helplines and ward-level centres for three city gas distribution companies.

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