New Delhi, Dec 2 (UNI) Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) have released 78.98 lakh LPG connections under the Ujjwala 2.0 scheme, besides making special provision for migrant families to avail new connection, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli informed Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ujjwala 2.0 on 10 August, 2021 in Uttar Pradesh to release 1 crore deposit free LPG connection on pan India basis, in addition to 8 crore LPG connections already released under PMUY.
Under Ujjwala 2.0, the beneficiaries are given deposit free LPG connection alongwith free first refill and stove, facility to apply online for new PMUY connection and special provision for migrant families to avail new connection using self declaration as proof of address and family declaration.
Among the states which got the highest LPG connections under the scheme are West Bengal with 17.90 lakh connections, Uttar Pradesh with 13.14 lakh, Bihar with 13.09 lakh, Gujarat 4.59 lakh, Assam 4.20 lakh and Chhattisgarh 3.25 lakh.
The OMCs are encouraging better consumption of LPG and reduce diversion and delay in supplies. These include deferment of loan recovery from subsidy amount for PMUY beneficiaries and offering swap option from 14.2 kg to 5 kg to reduce upfront cash outgo as well as the option of 5 kg double bottle connection.
The companies have also been conducting Pradhan Mantri LPG panchayat to convince beneficiaries to use LPG on sustained basis, mass awareness camps. The PMUY beneficiaries are being allowed upto 3 free refills under Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan package from April to December 2020, Aadhaar based de-duplication, direct benefit transfer of LPG subsidy and opening of new distributorships.
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