Survey on Trends in LPG Utilization Among Selected Rural Households in Western Maharashtra, India

According to data from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, as on 1st July, 2021, there are about 29.11 crore LPG consumers. 99.5% households in India use LPG now for domestic cooking purpose. Net consumption of the gas of our country is about 145 million standard cubic meters every day. As on 5th March, 2022, cost of a 14.2 kg cylinder is Rs. 902.0 in Maharashtra. The cost of LPG has increased by 220% from March 2014 (Rs. 410.0) to March 2022 (Rs. 902.0). This trend shows that the cost of LPG is going to increase day by day. To control the expenses on LPG, individual LPG user needs to use it efficiently. A survey of 507 LPG using households was conducted in 10 villages of Western Maharashtra, India to know the trends of LPG utilization and to know awareness of people about conservation of LPG. The results of survey shown that family size of about 45% households was 4 members. The duration of refill of LPG cylinders was about 30 to 40 days in 47% households. In most of the households, smaller burner of LPG stove was used for performing common cooking cycles such as making of tea and boiling of milk. Most of the households prefer pre-soaking of dal and rice prior to cooking. About 78% of the households still use biomass cookstoves for cooking purpose in addition to LPG stoves. Only 20% of the LPG using households were found to be the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana which was launched by Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modiji on 1st May 2016 to distribute LPG connections to women of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.