AP CM directs LPG release to BPL women under Deepam scheme

Hyderabad, Sep 12 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today directed Oil marketing companies and the Civil supplies officials to release three lakh LPG connections this year and another six lakh connections in 2008-09 to the Below Poverty Line(BPL) women under Deepam scheme.

After reviewing the scheme with the officials of Civil supplies and representatives of Oil marketing companies at camp office here, he directed all the District Collectors to provide the lists of beneficiaries to the oil marketing companies for grounding the scheme.

Noting that the main reason for slow grounding of the scheme was due to non-availability of sufficient equipments from oil marketing companies, the Chief Minister directed the companies to acquire required equipments immediately and gear up the machinery to ground the balance 3,36,336 connections during 2007-08.

Dr Reddy said the Centre had also been requested to instruct the oil marketing companies to make available necessary equipments.

Stating that an amount of Rs 299 crore was released under Deepam scheme so far, he directed the officials to ensure supply of LPG to every consumer promptly and regularly.

The officials said out of Rs 35.91 lakh sanctioned LPG connections for BPL families in the State so far, 32.55 lakh connections were released, as on August 31.

The Chief Minister later left on a tour to Adilabad, Warangal and Khammam districts.

UNI