The Hindu Business Line : Vision-2015 plans to speed up, increase LPG connections

New Delhi, June 27 Vision-2015 for the oil sector which will focus on providing better services to customers covering four broad areas of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), kerosene, auto fuels and compressed natural gas/piped natural gas, has been finalised by the Petroleum Ministry.

An official statement issued here said the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, unveiled the oil sectors Vision-2015 for ‘Consumer Satisfaction and Beyond’ at a CEO Conclave in Goa on Friday

Vision-2015’s focus is to increase the pace of new LPG connections substantially — 5.5. crore new connections till 2015 — taking the population coverage from 50 per cent to 75 per cent. The total number of LPG customers would reach 16 crore. Most of the new connections will be released in the rural areas and where LPG coverage is low, the statement said. The focus will also be to shift customers from kerosene to LPG. The target is to get towns with population of more than five lakh fully covered. This will be done in a phased manner, beginning with the metros, the statement said. The Corporate social responsibility fund of oil PSUs to be leveraged and the State governments roped in to provide support to poor households to shift from kerosene to LPG, the statement said.

SMS booking

The Vision also envisages introduction of SMS booking in all towns with a population of more than five lakh in phases beginning with the metros. A common toll-free three-digit number such as ‘139’ for customers’ complaints all over India will be introduced.

The concept of common LPG kitchen, akin to the Rasoi Ghar scheme of HPCL wherein common kitchens are set up in villages, is proposed to be extended to all villages with a population of more than 5,000.

To ensure that the kerosene reaches the targeted beneficiaries, Vision-2015 envisages distribution against biometric smart cards beginning with large urban cities. The smart card programme will be implemented by all oil companies in association with the State governments.

The Vision will study the possibility of direct cash transfer of subsidy on kerosene to rural beneficiaries’ accounts and if found feasible to be expanded to other areas, the statement said. Feasibility of introducing packaged supply of kerosene in five litre recoverable pack to be studied to prevent diversion of PDS kerosene.

Under the Vision 2015, the Government proposes to cover 200 cities with CNG/PNG connections.