Minister Hardeep Puri reviews LPG portability policy in meeting with energy PSUs, officials
In a social media post on X, the Union Minister shared that the number of LPG connections in the country has risen to over 33 crore from 14 crore in 2014, pushing overall coverage from 62 per cent before 2016 to over 100 per cent now.
'As the number of LPG dealerships increases to more than 25,570 to cater to the rising demand, in a meeting with senior officials of @PetroleumMin and CMDs of India's energy sector PSUs, we discussed the policy of portability from one OMC to another for the consumers,' the Minister said in the post.
As per the post, a major contributor to this transformation has been the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), under which more than 10.33 crore free LPG connections have been distributed to beneficiaries in both rural and urban areas.
To meet the surging demand for cooking gas, the number of LPG dealerships has also increased to more than 25,570 across the country.
Puri noted that the government is exploring new policies to enhance consumer convenience, including the introduction of portability between Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
The Union Minister further added that in an effort to strengthen last-mile delivery, OMCs have engaged 22,443 Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), which together delivered 58 lakh cylinders during FY 2024-25 to remote and underserved regions.
The Minister also reviewed the progress of India's energy transition efforts with officials from the Petroleum Ministry and PSU heads. He revealed that solar power infrastructure has been installed at nearly 79,000 out of the country's 88,000+ fuel retail outlets. These installations range in capacity from below 1KW to more than 3KW, helping reduce the carbon footprint of fuel stations.
'Even as India moves ahead with full momentum towards the energy security goals under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji, we continue to focus on green, sustainable and innovative sources of energy,' Puri affirmed in his post.
'In a meeting with @PetroleumMin officials and captains of PSU-OMCs we reviewed the process of setting of solar power infrastructure at the vast network of more than 88,000 retail outlets across the country,' the post added.
Talking to ANI on Monday, Puri said that India is putting in all kinds of effort to ramp up its own traditional fossil-based energy production, and the latest push is to dig deep in the Andaman region.
Puri outlined several measures the government has been taking over the years for exploration and production. He also noted that the exploration in the Andamans is pointing to 'good news' and may end up becoming India's 'Guyana moment'. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Sergey Lavrov, Marco Rubio discuss Putin-Trump summit over phone call
Moscow [Russia], August 13 (ANI): Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation on Tuesday (local time) to discuss the upcoming meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov and Rubio 'discussed certain aspects" of the Friday summit. 'On August 12, Russia's FM Sergey #Lavrov & US Secretary of State @MarcoRubio spoke over the phone, discussed certain aspects of the upcoming meeting between President Vladimir #Putin & President @realDonaldTrump in Alaska on August 15," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on Trump said while addressing the White House briefing on Monday, 'We're going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin. And at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," he asked if he sees a time when there could be normal trade between the US and Russia, Trump said, 'I do. Russia has a very valuable piece of land. If Vladimir Putin went toward business instead of toward war, you know, it's a warring nation. That's what they do. They fight a lot of wars. A friend of mine said Russia is tough because they just keep on fighting."Further, Trump expressed optimism about the meeting and said, 'I'd like to see a ceasefire. I'd like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties."On the same day, Trump said that American tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil had delivered a 'big blow" to Moscow, saying, 'No one would have been so tough and I haven't stopped there."US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that American tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil had delivered a 'big blow" to Moscow, saying, 'No one would have been so tough and I haven't stopped there."He said Russia has been 'heavily impacted" by global pressure, including US trade actions on multiple countries. (ANI)
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
"Won't Compromise, Will Find New Markets": Shivraj Chouhan Slams US Tariffs
New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his determination to protect the interests of farmers despite tariff pressure and said it has been decided that there will be no compromise with the interests of the farming. Speaking at an event in Subrahmanyam Hall in New Delhi, Mr Chouhan emphasised that India's population is its strength and the country will also find new markets. In a veiled reference to the United States imposing 50 per cent tariff on India and apparent pressure in trade talks for greater access to India's agriculture and dairy sectors, Mr Chouhan said there is vast difference in the size of landholdings and agricultural practices and cost of production in the two countries. "The whole country was apprehensive, know how much land they hold: 10,000 hectares, 15,000 hectares. Meanwhile, our farmers have land ranging from one acre to three acres, with many having just half an acre. We have a little land. Is this competition fair? You use GM seeds. There are different kinds of perceptions about our GM. The whole country was apprehensive, what will happen? They want their soybean to come here, their wheat, maize, rice," the Agriculture Minister said. "The cost of production per hectare is less there because GM seeds and other things are used, so the yield is more and the cost is less. The cost of production per hectare here is much higher than there, and if it had come openly, the prices of the crops here would have fallen further in our country. Where would the farmer go? Therefore, it was decided that no matter what happens, there will be no compromise with the interests of the farmer," he added. Mr Chouhan referred to PM Modi's remarks that no matter how much loss he personally incurs, there will be no compromise with interests of farmers. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi said recently that no matter how much loss I personally incur, but the interests of farmers will not be compromised. This is the voice of India, voice of brothers, be assured. If there is some difficulty, we will see. We will find new markets, and India itself is such a big market that our things will be consumed here. The population of the whole of Europe is 50 crore, America's is 30 crore, our population of 144 crore is not our weakness; it is our strength. That is why this decision was taken. It is also testing time, we don't have budge, bow..." former Madhya Pradesh CM said. US imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods last month and increased it to 50 per cent over import of Russian oil. MR Chouhan also spoke of the government's determination to provide more resources to agriculture. He also dismissed nuclear sabre-rattling by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and said India has decided to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack. "Today, as a farmer, I want to congratulate our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I want to thank him. The first thing is the Indus Water Treaty. Now the neighbour is giving threats from America. India is not going to be afraid of any threat. The whole world should hear that the Indus Treaty has been cancelled, and our water will be used for the farmers. This is Modi ji's decision. Such an unjust treaty, the rivers, land, water are ours and the canal will be built in Pakistan. We gave 80% of the water, and Nehru ji also gave money to build the canal there; this was a sin. Now this will not be allowed at any cost; our water will be used for our own purposes," Mr Chouhan said. Referring to Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism against India, Mr Chouhan said PM Modi has made it clear that "blood and water cannot flow together". He said the government would soon bring in a new law to take strict action against those producing fake fertilisers and chemicals. He said various schemes for farmers' welfare are being advanced on priority and digital payment of insurance amounts was made to farmers on Monday from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The Union Minister highlighted PM Modi's 'Nation First' resolve and emphasized that the Prime Minister has always taken strong, bold, nation-centric decisions, for which the country will forever remain indebted
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Farmer groups hail PM Modi's bold stand against US trade tariffs
NEW DELHI: Representatives of several farmer organisations from across the country on Tuesday expressed their gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bold decision to not compromise with farmers' interests during trade talks despite pressure from the US. The farmer leaders, who attended a meeting with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, extended their support to the Central govt. Chouhan asked them "not to worry" about the current "testing times" due to higher US tariffs, saying the huge agricultural sector will explore new geographies for exporting its produce. The farmer representatives specifically referred to Modi's remarks, made while addressing the M S Swaminathan Centenary International Conference last week, that he won't compromise with farmers' interests and was even ready to pay a heavy personal price to protect them. Modi's remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff burden on Indian goods. Though both the countries had been discussing bilateral trade issues for the last few months, they got stuck over US' demand for greater access to India's agriculture and dairy market. "PM Modi has made an unwavering statement in the interests of farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen... The announcement not only brings relief to millions of food providers but also strengthens the self-reliance of agriculture and rural India," said Dharmendra Choudhary, national president of the Indian Farmer Chaudhary Charan Singh Organisation.
