BHUBANESWAR: The Centre has set a target to add 40 lakh new LPG consumers in Odisha by 2018. Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan gave this direction while reviewing LPG coverage in the State here on Monday.
"The Union Minister has set a target to release 30 lakh new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and another 10 lakh under the normal release (Above Poverty Line category) by December 2018," said Chief LPG Manager of Indian Oil Corporation and state nodal officer for PMUY G Swaminathan here on Tuesday.
Swaminathan said over 2.01 lakh new LPG connections have been achieved under PMUY and more than 3.47 lakh applications are being processed under the Central scheme for release.
The LPG penetration in the State has increased from 26 per cent to over 40 per cent as against the current National average of 64 per cent.
He said the oil marketing companies have successfully launched PMUY programme in all 314 blocks of the State despite disruptions in few blocks like Athagarh, Nimapara, Paralakhemundi and a few blocks of Nabarangpur, Ganjam and Malkangiri districts.
Responding to queries, he said there is no guidelines of inviting local representatives to such events. It has been planned to conduct PMUY functions closer to the beneficiaries at gram panchayat levels and educate them about the scheme as well as safe usage of LPG, he added.