Demand for piped gas on the rise in Gurgaon

20 February, 2013

With the increase in the cost of LPG cylinders every month it has become difficult for the common man to manage the kitchen as one LPG cylinder now costs upto Rs. 950. So to cut costs people in Gurgaon are switching to PNG (Piped Natural Gas), which is 25 per cent cheaper in billing and is also safer.

"No matter how much money we make but still there is no saving because of increasing inflation and specially because of continuously rising cost of LPG cylinders. It has become difficult to mange household budget," Ravish Bhatia, a resident of Gurgaon, told this citizen journalist . Though with PNG, the issue is the waiting list and time taken for the PNG connection to get operational.

Even RWAs are coming together to apply for collective connections for PNG which needs atleast 60% of residents' agreement to bring connection in a particular locality.

"We have requested the authorities and HCGDL to bring the connection at our places as almost all people are in our locality are keen to get this connection and about 2250 people will get benefit," Tribhuvan Nath Kaul, President of RWA Aardee City, told this citizen journalist.

An increasing number of societies and households in the city are opting for PNG, preferring it over domestic LPG cylinders. "As of now, 5,000 domestic consumers have registered with us, out of which, 3,500 have been given the connections while the installation is in progress and will be completed soon for the rest," said Sandeep Sharma, vice-president, Haryana City Gas Distribution Ltd (HCGDL) told The Times of India.

Earlier, when people were not aware of PNG and its benefits, HCGDL had to approach people and make them aware as to how to use it but today in Gurgaon many colonies and sectors are increasingly booking PNG connections.

"We have seen a 40% rise in the queries for PNG connections from societies in the past one year, more because of the recent scheme of the government restricting the number of subsidised LPG cylinders to nine annually," Sharma said.

He also explained how RWAs are helping them in fixing these connections and encouraging more people to opt PNG. "We take the help of RWAs to facilitate the process of PNG connections in households. Those interested, coordinate internally with their residents and once we ensure that at least 60% households are willing to take the connection, we distribute forms to them. Each consumer is needed to pay a security fee of Rs 6,000 for the connection, which is refundable. Once this is done, a contractor is mobilised for the connections in that society," explained Sharma.

There are many more benefits of PNG which is more safer and lighter than LPG. "PNG costs 25% less than LPG. Moreover, you pay as much as you use. Meters are installed inside the household so no one can tamper with them," said Sharma. "Besides LPG is heavier than air and hence accumulates while PNG is lighter than air and does not accumulate in the house, making it safer." he added.

Right now PNG's cost is rupees 22 per unit and increases as per the different slabs as per the usage of it. "For usage of 30 units per month, one is needed to pay Rs 22 per unit, but if the usage is more than that, price goes up to Rs 28 per unit for every extra unit used after 30 units," Sharma said.