Over four lakh cooking gas (LPG) connections have been issued under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana across Telangana by three national oil marketing companies (OMC).
A programme to make access to clean fuel easier for the economically weak by offering the connection on attractive terms, the Yojana was rolled out in Telangana on April 14.
More than the achievement of the four-lakh mark in four months, what made it heartening for the oil industry officials is that such an offtake came from a State that was statistically saturated with regard to LPG connections. It was also cited as one of the reasons for the delayed roll-out of PMUY in the State.
Four lakh and still counting, is how a senior LPG in-charge of one of the companies described the achievement, pointing out that the momentum is expected to continue for a few months more.
The number of PMUY connections issued by IOC is estimated to be around 1.9 lakh, while for HPCL and BPCL the numbers would be about 1.4 lakh and 1.2 lakh respectively; something that an official of another OMC also confirmed.
Five crore connections have been issued across the nation since the PMUY was launched, in May 2016. The Centre provides a cash assistance of ₹1,600 per connection to the oil companies towards the security deposit for the cylinder and pressure regulator, installation/demonstration charges and cost of issue of DGCC booklet (blue book) thus ensuring no charges on these counts for the customers.
Though schemes on similar lines are in operations in some States, what differentiates PMUY is the EMI (instalment) option the companies provide to the household to acquire gas stove and the first refill. The EMI gets deducted from the LPG subsidy amount credited to the bank accounts of the consumers. The first instalment starts from the supply of the 7th refill.
These features made it easier for the companies to propagate LPG use and advantages, which include health benefits, saving time and safety of women. Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had also directed the firms to go to identified villages and promote the scheme door-to-door, an official said, adding the second phase of the intensive campaign ended August 15 and numbers pertaining to the connections were being collected.
On LPG ‘saturation’ in Telangana part and how they remain confident of doing more under PMUY, the officials said LPG penetration level in Telangana based on the 2011 census data was high whereas a lot of changed after that. Telangana has a total of 1.21 crore LPG connections of which 97 lakh were active.
The PMUY covers all SC/ST households, beneficiaries of PMAY (Gramin) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), forest dwellers, most-backward classes, tea and ex-tea garden tribes and people residing in islands and rivers.