Karnataka seeks Centre’s intervention to resume new LPG connections, with 36,000 applications pending

The Karnataka government reported that more than thirty‑six thousand applications for new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections remain unprocessed as of August 2026. The pending requests cover families across rural and urban areas that rely on LPG for daily cooking and heating. Many of these households receive subsidised cylinders under the central Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which aims to replace traditional firewood and kerosene with cleaner fuel. Delays in issuing connections have forced some families to revert to polluting alternatives, raising health and safety concerns.

State Minister Rizwan Arshad announced that the department has formally approached the Centre seeking immediate assistance. He said the state has already cleared all administrative formalities on its side and is prepared to allocate additional resources for distribution once central approval is received. The request includes a request for expedited verification of pending applications and the release of additional LPG cylinders from central stockpiles. Officials fear that prolonged inaction could erode public confidence in welfare schemes and increase the financial burden on households that must purchase private cylinders at market rates.

Analysts note that the situation reflects broader challenges in synchronising state and central delivery mechanisms for large‑scale subsidy programmes. If the centre responds quickly, the backlog could be reduced within weeks, allowing families to benefit from the intended health and environmental gains. Observers will watch for any policy adjustments announced by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, as well as the speed with which the pending applications are cleared.