SHILLONG: The number of domestic consumers of oil marketing companies is on the rise in the state.
As per the written reply by the Minister of State in charge Petroleum & Natural Gas , Dharmendra Pradhan in the the Lok Sabha, the number of domestic customers of oil marketing companies in Meghalaya on April 2014 was 1.80 lakh and it increased to 1.89 lakh in April 1, 2015. Moreover, as per the reply, number of domestic customers of oil marketing companies (OMCs) in Meghalaya on November 1, 2015 is 1.96 lakh.
He also informed that as per the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution), (Amendment) Order 2014, a person or household is entitled to one LPG connection under Public Distribution System (PDS).
For new connection, the customer should furnish duly filled Know Your Customer (KYC) Form along with valid proof of Identity and address to the distributor. Further, to facilitate LPG coverage for BPL families, a scheme for providing one time grant to BPL families for release of new LPG connection is in operation.
As per the scheme, the security deposit (up to Rs. 1600/-) for one cylinder and pressure regulator is paid from the fund created for this purpose.
OMCs aim to increase the National LPG coverage to 75 %, with minimum 60 % coverage at State level and at least one distributor in each block by 2019.
To increase the penetration in rural and backward areas OMCs are appointing new LPG distributors and more than 97 % of blocks are being catered by at least one LPG distributor.
