Karnataka Seeks Centre’s Intervention To Resume LPG Connections, 36,000 Applications Pending

Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad has urged Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri to direct oil marketing companies to resume the issuance of new domestic LPG connections in the State.

Mr. Arshad cited around 36,000 pending applications as of August 2026 in a letter to Mr. Puri. He said the process of issuing new domestic LPG connections had been halted following the global LPG crisis, leaving eligible households waiting for connections for several months.

Demand rises as settlements expand

Mr. Arshad said Karnataka had witnessed significant population growth, urbanisation and an expansion of residential settlements, leading to a growing demand for new LPG connections.

Newly formed households, migrant workers, low-income families and residents of developing urban and peri-urban areas were among those affected, he said.

He pointed to the growing demand in rapidly developing cities, particularly Bengaluru. Employees in the IT and biotechnology sectors, as well as families moving into newly developed residential areas, could face difficulties in securing domestic LPG connections, he said.

The pending applications therefore involve households in areas where residential expansion and population growth have increased the need for domestic cooking fuel, according to the minister’s letter.

Concern over traditional cooking fuels

Mr. Arshad cautioned that prolonged delays could compel households to depend on traditional cooking fuels such as firewood and charcoal.

He said this could expose women, children and the elderly to indoor air pollution and increase the risk of household accidents.

The shortage of new connections could also impede efforts to ensure access to clean cooking fuel for all eligible households, he said.

The minister highlighted the difficulties faced by middle-class and economically weaker families in obtaining suitable cooking fuel during the delay.

He said the significant price difference between domestic LPG cylinders and five-kg cylinders made the latter difficult to afford for many households.

Mr. Arshad also warned that the non-availability of new connections could encourage illegal activities.

Request for district-wise assessment

Mr. Arshad requested the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to facilitate the release of an adequate number of new connections in consultation with oil marketing companies.

He said the release should remain subject to applicable guidelines and verification procedures.

The minister also sought a district-wise assessment of the additional requirement in consultation with the Karnataka government.

He urged the Centre to expedite action in the larger public interest, while asking that the resumption of connections be carried out through the prescribed guidelines and verification process.

Source: The Hindu