For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts
Oneindia App Download

Pradhan terms Odisha CM's statement on Ujjwala scheme 'misleading'

By
|
Google Oneindia News

Bhubaneswar, Dec 28: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Friday termed as "misleading" Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's claim that Ujjwala scheme is a "failure" in Odisha and said beneficiaries have taken about 1.2 crore LPG refills.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. File photo

"Your recent statement about Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) as an unsuccessful scheme in Odiaha .. Your statement appears to be devoid of facts and misleading," Pradhan said in a letter to Patnaik.

The Petroleum Minister shot off the letter, copy of which was released to the media, two days after Patnaik claimed at BJD's foundation day function here on Wednesday that Ujjwala scheme was a "failure" in Odisha as people were unable to go for refill due to high cost of LPG cylinders.

Warrant issued against Sambit PatraWarrant issued against Sambit Patra

Stating that more than 35 lakh connections have been given under PMUY so far in Odisha, Pradhan claimed the scheme has played a critical role in significantly enhancing the total number of LPG consumers from 19 lakh in May 2014 to 72.5 lakh in 2018 in the state.

The LPG coverage in Odisha has also been expanded from 22 per cent in 2014 to 69 per cent in 2018, he said adding with the recent decision of the Centre to expand PMUY to achieve universal coverage, Odisha would soon achieve LPG coverage over 90 per cent.

"In so far as the issue of purchase of refill by the beneficiaries, you may appreciate that adoption and sustained use of LPG is originally linked to behavioural change, cooking habit, economic status of the family," Pradhan said.

"In this background, it is heartening to see that in Odisha, PMUY beneficiaries have consumed nearly 1.20 crore refills and per capital consumption is nearly 3.7 refills, which is in consonance with the national average consumption by beneficiaries," the Union minister said.

Further, about 4.2 lakh consumers have taken 4 or more refills, he said adding this clearly indicates a marked behavioural change amongst the common man in Odisha to make a transition towards clean and sustainable source of energy.

Pradhan said the Centre is also bearing subsidy on LPG refills to protect the consumers from price volatility. The subsidy is transferred directly into the bank account of the beneficiaries through the DBTL (PAHAL) eliminating leakages and role of the middleman.

In Odisha, the subsidy per cylinder is Rs 326.22 which fully protects the consumers from any price increase, he said.

"The above stated facts establish the success of PMUY in the state and prove your statement vastly misleading that seems to be aimed at gaining undeserving attention and to divert common men concerns from your government's failure to address the burning issues affecting the poor," said Pradhan.

"I sincerely hope that the above stated fact shall assuage your concerns. I also expect that the state Government extends wholehearted support in expanding the gas infrastructure to cater to the increasing demand of LPG in the state such as allotment of land for Khurda LPG bottling plant," the Petroleum minister added.

PTI

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X