Govt plans to expand LPG production, distribution with Rs 30,000 crore investment

The government is planning to expand LPG production and distribution with Rs 30,000 thousand crores investment as it widens cooking gas coverage by giving out a record number of connections.

Until March 31, 2017, a record 3.45 crore new LPG connections were given with 2.2 crore connections to poor women, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters in New Delhi.

“When we took office, there were about 14 crores active LPG connections. In three years, this has gone up to 20.08 crore,” he said.

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a scheme to provide free cooking gas connection to BPL women is one of the major reason behind the vast expansion.

“PMUY was launched on May 1, 2016, with a target to provide 5 crore connections in three years. The first year target was 1.5 crore. But we have done 2.2 crore connections in the first year,” said Pradhan.

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The oil ministry has set a target of 3 crore new connections including 1.5-2 crore under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana during the 2017-18 fiscal and 4 crores for 2018-19.

This would help take LPG coverage to 95.49 percent of the population.

(With PTI Inputs)