Rural area LPG booking period reduced from 45 to 25 days

NEW DELHI: With improvement in LPG supplies and a fall in refill backlogs, govt Monday reduced the minimum time gap for booking LPG refills in rural areas to 25 days from 45 days, bringing it on a par with the interval for urban consumers, reports Atul Mathur.Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Suresh Gopi said the restriction had been imposed amid pressure on LPG supplies following the outbreak of the conflict in West Asia, with the booking interval set at 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas."However, in view of the current LPG supply situation improving and the significant reduction in refill backlog, Centre has relaxed this restriction. Now, all domestic LPG consumers, regardless of urban or rural, can book refills at an interval of 25 days," Gopi said. Petroleum ministry has issued an order to oil marketing companies IOC, BPCL and HPCL, asking them to implement this with immediate effect.