In a major move aimed at rationalising the distribution of cooking gas amid panic bookings across India, the Centre on Saturday barred domestic LPG connections for homes that already have piped natural gas (PNG) supplies.In a parallel move, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said it had resumed commercial LPG cylinder distribution for select industries across states. This decision was taken after a high-powered panel set up by the government interacted with stakeholders and state governments and decided to restore commercial LPG supplies for certain sectors. The move is expected to ease the burden on several industries, especially the hospitality sector, which has been hit hard by LPG shortages.Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the ministry, said the LPG supply remained a “matter of concern” amid the current conflict situation but “no stockouts have been reported so far”.Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri had on Thursday said that 20 per cent of the average monthly commercial LPG requirement would be allocated by oil marketing companies (IOC, BPCL and HPCL) in coordination with state governments to prevent hoarding or black marketing.Meanwhile, the Centre amended the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000, making households with piped natural gas (PNG) connections ineligible to retain or obtain domestic LPG connections. The move is also aimed at better channelising essential cooking gas supplies.Households with PNG connections have been asked to surrender their domestic LPG connections. The amendment seeks to prevent duplication of subsidised domestic fuel connections, sources said.The ministry notified the amendment under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which was invoked on March 9 to enable regulation in the distribution of natural gas.The original order was issued to regulate the supply, distribution and use of LPG in the country. Since then, it has been amended several times to reflect changes in the energy distribution system and consumer access to cooking fuel.The latest amendment reflects the expansion of PNG networks across urban areas and aims to streamline domestic fuel usage by discouraging households from holding both PNG and LPG connections simultaneously.Any person who already has a PNG connection and also holds a domestic LPG connection will now be required to immediately surrender the LPG connection. Such consumers will not be allowed to obtain refills of domestic LPG cylinders from government oil companies or their distributors.The notification also bars individuals with existing PNG connections from applying for new domestic LPG connections or obtaining LPG refills in the future.It further places restrictions on government oil companies. Under the revised Schedule-I of the order, oil companies will be barred from issuing domestic LPG connections or supplying cylinder refills to consumers who already have piped natural gas connections.Officials said the move was intended to prevent duplication of domestic cooking fuel connections and ensure more efficient distribution of LPG, particularly in areas where piped natural gas infrastructure was already available.