the goan I network
PANAJI
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is yet to see a strong response from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families that still use kerosene as a cooking fuel in Goa. Of the 11,000 BPL families, only 1,059 families have opted to avail the LPG connection provided under the scheme. Of those who did avail the LPG connections under the scheme, around 57.8 per cent have comeback to refill their cylinders.
PMUY has been introduced by central government to provide LPG connections to the female members of BPL families.
“Goa civil supply department has sent us a list of 11,000 Below Poverty Line (BPL) family members who are still using Kerosene as a fuel,” informed Vaibhav Bhagat, Assistant Manager Sales of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
The reason people are not coming forward to take LPG connection is that use of Kerosene as fuel is still more affordable than LPG.
However the official of HPCL also claimed that since PMUY’s launch on May 1, 2016, the North Goa district coverage of LPG connections has increased to 129.12 per cent as against earlier coverage of 112.5 per cent (as on March 1, 2016). In South Goa the district, coverage of LPG connections has increased to 120.2 per cent as against earlier coverage of 118.8 per cent. The statistics were released by Bhagat at a press conference in Panaji on Friday.
Three major oil management companies Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (BPC) are suppliers of LPG in Goa.
In North Goa, IOC, BPC, HPC have released 83, 314 and 348 LPG connections, respectively. Taking the total number of beneficiaries to 745 till December 27, 2018. While in South Goa, IOC, BPC and HPC have released 28, 4 and 277 LPG connections, respectively. Taking the total number of beneficiaries to 309 till December 27.
In addition, 34.14 per cent beneficiaries under the scheme, who could not afford to make upfront payment for purchase of gas stove and first refill, were provided a loan facility by the oil management companies. To make LPG more affordable to poor families, they have been provided with an option of 5 kg refill instead of 14.2 Kg refill.
It may be noted that under PMUY, around 5 crore LPG connections have been released to BPL families all over India.
