Lack of LPG-PNG user data leaves officials confused amid surrender drive

The drive to compel households with both piped natural gas (PNG) and LPG connections to surrender one connection has run into uncertainty in Ahmedabad, with officials admitting they do not have accurate data on the number of such consumers in the district.

In line with fresh guidelines issued by the Centre, the state government had directed consumers with dual connections to return their LPG cylinders to agencies by March 18. However, officials have acknowledged that they do not have the exact number of such consumers in Ahmedabad.

The District Supply Office has stated that no comprehensive or integrated database has been compiled to identify households with both PNG and LPG connections.

Locals allege that the directive has fuelled rumours of a possible shortage of cooking gas, despite assurances from authorities about adequate supply.

PNG connectivity has expanded significantly across several parts of Ahmedabad, with households serviced by multiple gas agencies and suppliers. However, officials conceded that no coordinated effort had been made so far to gather customer data across agencies to identify duplicate connections.

Amid the confusion, the administration had initially set a tight deadline of 48 hours for surrendering LPG connections, further adding to anxiety among consumers.

While the government maintains that the measure is aimed at streamlining gas distribution, officials have not clarified what action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the directive.