EC bars OilMin from launching LPG schemes in poll-bound states

With the Model Code of Conduct coming into force, the Election Commission has barred the Oil Ministry from launching 5-kg cooking gas cylinders at select petrol pumps and inter-company LPG portability in the five poll-bound states, including Delhi.
The Election Commission rejected the ministry's proposal to launch its two new schemes in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. The new schemes were to be launched from October 5.
The poll body has also directed the ministry not to publicise the two schemes in Delhi and other states.
"The two schemes shall not be implemented in Delhi in view of the Model Code and the publicity of these schemes shall also not be allowed in Delhi," said an EC communication to the Oil Ministry.

"The scheme shall also not be launched in other poll going states and publicity thereof shall also not be made in these states," it said.
The Ministry had sought the EC's nod before launching the schemes in Delhi and other states.

According to the proposal, cooking gas (LPG) was to be made available at select petrol pumps in metro cities after the ministry allowed sale of 5-kg cylinders at retail outlets.
The proposal was to also launch LPG connection portability, allowing consumers to choose or change cooking gas dealers at the press of a button.
An LPG consumer is attached to a distributor and cannot change his distributor even if he is unhappy with the service.

The small cylinders were to be made available at company-owned-company-operated petrol pumps, initially at the five metros - Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai and was launched with much fanfare on October 5 in Bangalore. The small cylinders will be priced at market rate.
The LPG portability was launched in Chandigarh on January 11 as a pilot project, before being introduced in other identified cities.